Training with RSI in hands/wrists

Hi Drs and Happy New Year!

My wife has been preparing to get a new job in a field that requires a fast typing speed, so she has been practising her typing over the last couple of months. Unfortunately, in early-December she started getting pain and tingling in her hands, wrists and elbows. Her GP diagnosed repetitive strain injury from the increased typing that she was doing, and advised her to stop typing for a few weeks and use her hands as little as possible. As of now, the pain has largely reduced, but she still has tingling/pins and needles in both hands, and occasional aches and pains.

I had introduced her to barbell training a few months ago, and she was squatting, deadlifting, benching and pressing 2 or 3 times per week. Not on a strict LP yet, but we were adding weight every few sessions.

Once the pain and tingling in her hands started, we decided to stop barbell training as we were worried about putting excess strain on her hands and forearms, and we want her hands better as soon as possible so she can pursue her job goals (the pain would have stopped her from holding the barbell correctly anyway).
She’s been able to run and swim in the meantime, without affecting her symptoms.

Her hands still aren’t back to normal, but we’re keen for her to get back to weight-training as soon as possible. So, I was wondering if you could suggest any exercises that she could do now, that won’t need her to use her hands? I can think of the leg-press, but I’m not sure what else.

Have either of you coached someone before with hand problems/RSI? How did you get around it?

Many thanks for all of your help!

Has she been evaluated for Carpal Tunnel or Cubital Tunnel Syndromes?

Hi Austin,

She was assessed by her GP who didn’t think it was carpal tunnel syndrome, I think due to the pain/tingling being located over quite a wide area rather than around the thumb and index finger. Also, the GP didn’t think carpal tunnel would have occurred in the amount time that she had spend typing. I don’t think the GP mentioned cubital tunnel syndrome to her.

She also had a blood test to look for what the GP called ‘inflammation of the joints’, which came back with nothing out of the ordinary.

Other than that, she hasn’t had any evaluations specifically for carpal or cubital tunnel syndromes.

That’s understandable. If it were me, I would probably still pursue evaluation for those conditions due to the persistent numbness/pins and needles sensation.

As for other exercises, leg pressing is reasonable. it’s also possible to use a fairly “loose” grip with high bar or SSB squats.

Thanks Austin. She saw her GP again today and is being referred to the hospital to have some nerve tests, which I think will include carpal tunnel.

In the meantime, we’ll return to the gym and try to work around the hand issue. Can’t not train, after all! :wink: