Maybe you have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Repetitive Stress Injury or just plain old pain in your hands.
Regardless of what it is called, these movements can help you feel better because the cure is basically the same for most hand pain.
Why?
Because the cause is the same: soft tissue irritation and muscle
imbalance.
Some people might say “soft tissue damage,” but I don’t want
you to think in any way that you are “damaged.”
You’re not!
Soft tissue is everything which is not bone. Muscles, skin, nerves and
everything else which is not bone is soft tissue.
The good news is
that soft tissue problems can be made better, and carpal tunnel symptoms are almost always caused by muscles and other soft tissues.
Here are some simple movements for carpal tunnel pain relief.
You probably used to do them all the time when you were a child. Perhaps it’s time to start again.
- Whenever your arms are in the same position for more than five minutes, take a movement break. The break can be as simple as lifting and dropping your shoulders while you look off into the distance.
- Squeeze your shoulder blades together and lift your breastbone.
- Lift your shoulders and roll them back and down.
- Stretch your arms over your head, as though you are yawning. Rotate your hands around while they are up there. Get the blood flowing.
- Take a few deep breaths. Breathing plays an important part in pain
relief and in relaxing the muscles around your ribs.
Remember, most carpal tunnel syndrome pain is caused by muscle
imbalances and can be cured with simple, natural methods that correct
the cause of the pain in your hands.
Start working on getting a strong back again. It will make you feel so much better all over.
You can find articles with directions to strengthen your back at Simple
Strengthening.com and start getting rid of your carpal tunnel symptoms today!
Hi Gitie, Thank you for your comment!
Little kids are moving all the time; that’s why they don’t have pain in their hands. They use ALL of their muscles.
That is also why Yoga is very helpful for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (according to a study by the National Institutes of Health)–it helps you use ALL of your muscles.
Take the time to stretch in the OPPOSITE directions of the ones you work in and place your keyboard in the most comfortable position possible (for me, this works on my lap.)
And don’t forget to “smell the roses.”
Thank YOU for taking care of yourself!
Kathryn
Hi Piotr, Thank you for writing.
The thing with the back exercises for carpal tunnel symptoms is this: When your back is strong and your posture is good and balanced (like when you were a toddler and used all of your muscles) then you eliminate many of the possible causes for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (and other pain and dysfunction, too!)
Kathryn
Hi Kathryn,
Great post. I get pains in my hands quite often (being slave to my keyboard). I do some of these movements sometimes, but will start doing them more regularly.
Thanks
Gitie
Wow, didn’t know of 3/4th of those things. I used to go to a chiropractor, she helped a bunch with my back problems, but never helped with my hands.
You mentioned a bunch of back exercises … but I thought carpal tunnel was all about the wrists? I am pretty sure I’m misunderstanding something there …
I’ll try your tips, because I know that even if they are for carpal tunnel and stuff, they do give you more ‘energy’ during the day. Keeps the blood flowing and good ol’ brain oxygenated!
Thanks!
–PK