Message from the Director - Mary McCluskey - 2/17/08
Some of you may be experiencing hand/wrist problems. This might take the form of pain, grip weakness, tingling and numbness, or other odd sensations. Maybe you work at a job that requires a lot of repetitive motion like typing, playing an instrument, or working with a nail gun or other construction tools. If you have a lot of stress in your life and/or job this adds another negative dimension to the situation. What can you do?
The good news is: A LOT! Here is the list of recommendations I regularly give to clients which often have an effect of immediate relief:
1. Change your perception about your body. It is not your enemy. It did not wake up this morning with the intention of making your day terrible! Actually, it is sending you cries for help. It is doing the best it can to accomplish what you are trying to do. Start to develop a kind image of your body; it is your partner for life!
2. Lower your stress level. Life stress tightens the entire body musculature just a little bit. This makes any muscular problem you are having that much worse. One of the best stress busters? Spend a few moments concentrating on your breathing.
3. Drink water. Everybody has heard this, but do you know why it helps body aches? If you are even a little dehydrated your body will pull water from your blood to maintain essential body processes. There is not a single process that does not require water, by the way. Your blood thickens a little and it is that much harder for it to get into the tightened tissues where you have pain. Dry and tight tissues are starved for nutrients, oxygen, and waste removal. Often my clients begin a regular water drinking program and their pain levels decrease by 50%. Don't go crazy as you can drink too much. But the 8-10 glasses per day is usually a very safe amount. And yes, I know it makes you use the bathroom a lot. Doesn't your body deserve a few minutes in the bathroom every hour or two with all the demands you place on it? And no, coffee, soda, alcohol, and juice do not really count. Nothing can replace clear water which requires no processing by your body, it can just go right in and do its work quickly and efficiently.
4. Stretch. If you are sitting at a desk all day with your arms and hands working in front of your body (i.e. computer work) you need to undo this position to regain muscle balance in the shoulder and forearm. The easiest way I've found to do this is to lay back on one of those big exercise balls everyone seems to have. Just lay back there and enjoy the feeling of gravity pulling your arms down toward the floor! It's easy and can be effective if done for only a minute or two per day! Of course yoga, tai chi, active isolated stretching are all also great programs to take up for feeling the best you will ever feel! It's a great investment in your life if you can get the time.
5. Take breaks. Check out this great website for easy yoga stretches to do right at your desk: breakshttp://mentor.ucs.indiana.edu/~r547dex3/holloway/yogabreak/poses/prayer.htm
6. Get a massage and advice on how to use your work station the most efficiently for your body. Massage therapists can look at your posture and your work station to give you pointers here. Massage will warm, soften, and lengthen tough, hard, tight tissue. It feels wonderful and it can be the start to a new relationship with your body.
There are more, but these will get you started. By the way, I bet you know someone you can print this for or send the link to our page. What a nice way to show them you are thinking about their plight and you care about them! Also, all the above suggestions are great for maintenance of healthy tissue! If you don't have problems, rejoice! And start working on prevention which is always easier than treatment of a problem. Have a good week.