According to a Mayo Clinic study, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), a nerve disorder that causes pain, numbness and tingling in the wrist, has increased during past few decades

Researchers examined trends in the incidence of CTS, the number of surgeries to treat CTS, and work-related time lost due to the condition, between 1981 and 2005 among residents in a Minnesota county. During that time, more than 10,000 people were diagnosed with the disease and the annual rates increased from 258 per 100,000 persons to 424 per 100,000 people in the later period.

Investigators believe that the trend may be explained by the public’s increased awareness of CTS, attributed to the publicity from the epidemic of work-related cases. They warn that if the trend continues the number of operations and expenses related to CTS may increase as the population ages.

Learn more about CTS here.