HAND EXERCISES
Exercises can go a long way towards
relieving stiffness, soreness, cramping and numbness temporarily and promote a
more relaxed grip on the pen, although they won’t cure arthritis or carpal
tunnel syndrome.
1. With arms out to the sides at shoulder
level, turn hands rapidly from palm up to palm down.
2. Clench fists lightly, then slowly open
the hands until they’re fully open, fingers spread, as stretched as possible.
3. With fingers as straight as possible,
touch your thumb to your index fingertip, then tap it 5-6 times working your
way down to the base of the finger. Repeat with each finger.
4. Tap each finger in turn from the tip to
the base of the thumb.
5. Rotate the thumb through its full range
of motion.
6. With the hand resting on a flat surface,
raise each finger in turn as high as possible.
7. Hold your hands with palms together in
front of you as if praying. Bend them from side to side at the wrist as far as
comfortable.
8. Same as above, but with the backs of
your hands together. Don’t push them beyond a comfortable stretch in the back
of the wrist.
Numbness
and tingling in the hands may originate in the neck. Relaxing and loosening the
neck muscles may help temporarily, although it won’t cure arthritis, disk or
other structural problems.
1. Without raising your shoulders, try to
touch your ear to your shoulder.
2. Without moving your shoulders, try to
touch your chin to your shoulder.
3. Clasp your hands behind your head and
push it forward as far as it will stretch comfortably.
4. Shrug your shoulders as high as you can,
then rotate them back as if trying to make your shoulder
blades
meet.
The sources of
these exercises include Yoga, Youth and
Reincarnation by Jess Stern, physical therapy following carpal tunnel surgery, Sit and Be Fit on PBS, bagpipe
exercises and the internet.
