Sexual intercourse 'may cause wrist ache'

Carpal tunnel syndrome may be caused by sexual intercourse, new research has claimed.

John Zenian's paper outlining the hypothesis, 'The role of sexual intercourse in the etiology of carpal tunnel syndrome', was published in Medical Hypothesis last month.

It suggests that the eight known risk factors for unexplained tingling, numbness and muscle weakness in the wrists can be explained by changes in the frequency of sex.

The abstract of the paper reads: "It is proposed that carpal tunnel syndrome can develop during sexual intercourse when the hands become repeatedly extended while under pressure from the weight of the upper body.

"The bilaterality of carpal tunnel syndrome can be explained by the fact that both hands are needed to support the upper body during sexual intercourse."

Medical Hypotheses intentionally takes an unconventional approach to review, describing itself as "a bridge between cutting-edge theory and the mainstream of medical and scientific communication".