Medical Health Encyclopedia

Obesity and Other Physical Characteristics

Obesity. Obesity is highly linked with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Square Wrists. Some (but not all) studies have reported a higher risk for CTS in people square wrists (the thickness and width are about the same) than in those with the more common rectangular wrists.

Palm Shape. In one study, patients with palms that were both shorter- and wider-than-average and who also had shorter third fingers were more likely to have CTS than those without these hand characteristics.

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Poor Upper Back Strength. Some researchers claim that poor upper back strength makes people more susceptible to poor posture and injuries in the upper extremities, including carpal tunnel syndrome.

Smoking and Alcohol Abuse

Cigarette smoking slows down blood flow, so that smokers have worse symptoms and slower recovery than nonsmokers do. Increased alcohol intake has been associated with CTS in people with other risk factors.

Other Factors

Poor nutrition, previous injuries, and stress can increase one's risk for carpal tunnel syndrome. In addition, high levels of so-called “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) have also been linked to an increased risk of CTS.