I found an article by Linda Melone (Arthritis Today (May/June 2011) about giving your hands a fair shake. We tend to take our hands for granted until they let us know that enough is enough. The pain and stiffness often associated with overworked hands is a true senior affliction. Degenerative joint changes or other hand issues can make it difficult to perform even simple tasks. Everyday tasks like brushing your teeth or unloading your dishwasher become quite challenging. It is not unusual for hand joints and wrists to become painful and stiff from trauma or repetitive stress, but it still catches us by surprise.
We stretch and exercise every other part of our bodies so it makes sense that our hands might need some attention too. If you find yourself rubbing painful finger joints or shying away from a handshake, you are coming to fully appreciate the importance of truly dexterous hands.
The author, after consulting with hand specialists, suggested soaking the hands and wrists in warm water, and then doing a series of hand and wrist stretches. They aren’t that hard and they are something you can do anywhere to relieve the cramping in your hands. Hold each position for a count of two to five and be careful not to hurt yourself. These are stretching exercises and they are supposed to feel good.
- Prayer Hands: Palms together, fingertips pointed up and elbows out to the side with your forearms parallel to the floor…like you are praying.
- Back-To-Back: Start in prayer position, and then reverse your hands so that the fingertips point downward (the backs of your hands together).
- Fingertip Stretch: Bring hands together in front of your chest, touching the fingertips together. Point fingers away from your chest and gently press fingertips together.
It feels good and you have probably done these stretches quite unconsciously before. Stretching feels good and will relieve the stiffness and make your fingers more flexible, but it may be time to think about other ways to give your hands a break. You may have noticed that while painful hand joints may get better, the likelihood of recurrence or residual pain is often here to stay. I can grip a tennis racket again and I can pick dishes up out of the dishwasher, but my hands will probably always be sore when I wake up in the morning. Fortunately there are many products on the market to help you modify daily activities to cut back on stress.
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