How do you take care of your wrists?

As an aikidoka I follow a set routine of stretching that, I feel, really helps my wrists and hands stay healthy. Stretching keeps everything loose and helps keep everything in shape. Luckily I don't suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, a medical condition in which the median nerve is compressed at the wrist, leading to pain, paresthesias, and muscle weakness in the forearm and hand. Carpal tunnel would prevent me from participating in aikido, kenjutsu, making bokken, and running my business selling futons online.

Is there anything that can be done to treat carpal tunnel syndrome?

If you're asking yourself that same question, here are some great tips on carpal tunnel relief.

Traditional therapies include (several things that most people would have a hard time doing):
1. You must rest your hand for weeks
2. Your doctor may include some drugs to relieve the pain
3. Your Doctor may give you a cast to help ease pain
4. If your hand does not heal, you may need surgery

Prevention therapies (which I just read about) include:

1. For daytime wrist relief, wear a soft, flexible support that does not restrict movement of your hands and wrists. Also, look for a support that has a cushion to protect the underside of your wrist and your pisiform bone (the sensitive little bone you feel when you put your wrist on a hard surface). Soft support is available in the form of the Smart Glove, which does not limit movement while providing support.

2. Take frequent breaks from repetitive movement such as computer keyboard usage or use of browser based games that encourage the user for excessive finger movement. Such movements put stress on the nerves of the wrist.