Surreal illustration of a hand trapped inside a rubber tree, symbolizing carpal tunnel syndrome.

Is Your Job Giving You Carpal Tunnel? Rubber Tapping and the Risks You Need to Know

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 3 min read.

"Discover the hidden ergonomic risks of rubber tapping and how they contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome, impacting the lives of thousands of workers. Protect yourself with essential knowledge and preventive measures."

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common condition that causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm. It happens when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, gets compressed at the wrist. While many factors can contribute to CTS, certain jobs that involve repetitive hand and wrist movements are known to increase the risk.

One such occupation is rubber tapping, a widespread practice in Southeast Asia, particularly in Thailand, the world's largest rubber producer. Millions of workers engage in this labor-intensive job, which requires making precise cuts in rubber trees to extract latex. Recent research has shed light on the significant ergonomic risks associated with rubber tapping and its connection to carpal tunnel syndrome.

In fact, the research indicates that the physical demands of rubber tapping, characterized by repetitive motions and awkward postures, significantly contribute to the high prevalence of CTS among these workers. By understanding these risks, individuals and employers can take proactive steps to mitigate them, ensuring healthier and more sustainable working conditions.

The Ergonomic Risks of Rubber Tapping

Surreal illustration of a hand trapped inside a rubber tree, symbolizing carpal tunnel syndrome.

The study, led by Walaiporn Pramchoo, Alan F. Geater, and Boonsin Tangtrakulwanich, investigated the physical ergonomic risk factors associated with CTS among rubber tappers in Thailand. Researchers evaluated 133 CTS cases and 401 non-CTS controls, utilizing the Boston Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Questionnaire, Phalen’s test, and Tinel’s sign for diagnosis. Video recordings and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) were employed to analyze ergonomic risk levels in hand postures.

The results revealed that several physical ergonomic risk factors significantly increase the likelihood of developing CTS among rubber tappers:

Tapping trees at or below knee level: This posture requires awkward bending and strain on the wrists.
Collecting latex: The act of gathering latex involves repetitive hand and wrist movements.
Tapping at chest level or higher: This leads to increased wrist flexion and extension.

Specifically, the study highlighted that right-handed tappers who worked at higher levels (above chest level) experienced a greater proportion of right wrist flexion and/or extension. Simultaneously, their left wrists endured radial and/or ulnar deviation and twist, compounding the ergonomic strain. These findings underscore the importance of considering the height at which tapping occurs and its impact on wrist posture.

Protecting Rubber Tappers: The Path Forward

The findings of this study emphasize that rubber tapping presents significant occupational hazards for CTS. By recognizing the specific ergonomic risks involved, it becomes possible to implement targeted interventions. These may include ergonomic training programs for rubber tappers, the introduction of adjustable tools that reduce awkward postures, and the redesign of work processes to minimize repetitive motions. Further research and development of ergonomically designed rubber-tapping knives are essential to decrease the prevalence of CTS and improve the overall well-being of rubber tappers.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1080/19338244.2018.1507991, Alternate LINK

Title: Physical Ergonomic Risk Factors Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Among Rubber Tappers

Subject: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Journal: Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Authors: Walaiporn Pramchoo, Alan F. Geater, Boonsin Tangtrakulwanich

Published: 2018-10-29

Everything You Need To Know

What is carpal tunnel syndrome, and how does it relate to jobs involving repetitive motions like rubber tapping?

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition where the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes compressed at the wrist. This compression leads to pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and arm. Repetitive hand and wrist movements, such as those involved in rubber tapping, can increase the risk of developing CTS. Other risk factors not mentioned could include genetics, certain health conditions like diabetes or arthritis, and wrist injuries.

What does the rubber tapping process entail, and how do its physical demands contribute to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome among workers?

Rubber tapping involves making precise cuts in rubber trees to extract latex. The process often requires repetitive hand and wrist movements, awkward postures such as tapping trees at or below knee level, and tapping at chest level or higher. These physical demands put significant strain on the wrists and hands of rubber tappers, contributing to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. The awkward postures could also lead to other musculoskeletal problems such as back pain, shoulder impingement, or tendinitis.

What were the key findings of the study regarding ergonomic risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome among rubber tappers in Thailand?

The study by Walaiporn Pramchoo, Alan F. Geater, and Boonsin Tangtrakulwanich identified that tapping trees at or below knee level, collecting latex, and tapping at chest level or higher significantly increase the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome among rubber tappers in Thailand. Right-handed tappers working at higher levels experienced greater right wrist flexion and/or extension, while their left wrists endured radial and/or ulnar deviation and twist, compounding the ergonomic strain. These findings underscore the importance of considering the height at which tapping occurs and its impact on wrist posture.

What steps can be taken to protect rubber tappers from developing carpal tunnel syndrome and improve their working conditions?

To protect rubber tappers and reduce the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, several measures can be implemented. These include providing ergonomic training programs to educate workers on proper techniques, introducing adjustable tools that reduce awkward postures, and redesigning work processes to minimize repetitive motions. Furthermore, the development of ergonomically designed rubber-tapping knives is essential to decrease the prevalence of CTS and improve the overall well-being of rubber tappers. Regular breaks, job rotation, and pre-employment screening are other potential strategies that were not mentioned.

How can the understanding of ergonomic risks in rubber tapping inform prevention strategies for carpal tunnel syndrome in other industries involving repetitive tasks?

The insights gained from understanding the link between rubber tapping and carpal tunnel syndrome can be applied to other industries with similar repetitive motion tasks. By recognizing specific ergonomic risks, targeted interventions can be developed to prevent CTS and other musculoskeletal disorders in various occupations. This could lead to improved worker health, reduced healthcare costs, and increased productivity across different sectors. Additional research to understand the biomechanics of other high-risk occupations could further refine prevention strategies.