Carpal tunnel and everyday tasks

The tasks in these guides mostly involve holding something firmly for more than a few seconds, or holding it with your wrist bent: a phone, a pen, a hair dryer, a heavy bag by its straps. Short, hard efforts like a jar lid or a stiff tap turn up too.

All of the guides here sit in the weak-grip group, sorted by task. Each looks at doing the job with less squeeze and for less time. That might be a thicker handle so your fingers don't close as far, a strap or stand that takes over the holding, or a powered tool for the hardest part.

For questions about your own hands, including how your desk and tools are set up at work, a hand therapist is the right person to see. Many of them trained as occupational therapists.