Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Damaging U.S. Economy

Repetitive strain injuries (RSI's) like carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) are costing consumers, private business and insurance companies more than $100 billion in lost revenue each year. According to The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, "Musculoskeletal disorders are the country's most costly category of workplace injuries and illnesses. In addition to spending $20 billion annually on workers' compensation costs due to RSIs (Like Carpal tunnel syndrome), the U.S. spends another $100 billion on lost productivity, employee turnover, and other indirect expenses. The goal of every private business and insurance company should be to cut costs, and this goal can only be met when carpal tunnel syndrome and other "tunnel syndrome" disorders are addressed in a scope of "prevention" rather than after the fact and have to address the injury through "rehabilitation" methods. Rehabilitation costs to businesses and insurance companies are much greater than costs associated with prevention, and has an even higher toll on the individual afflicted with the disorder (carpal tunnel) in terms of both psychological and physical damages. The key to cutting costs associated with CTS and RSI's is "prevention", which can be achieved through a variety of methods. By implementing the methods listed below, overall costs can be reduced dramatically and optimum health and productivity of the individual can be maintained.