Do You Suffer From Stiffness Or Pain in Your Hands Or Wrists? Here May Be Some Reasons Why

It is estimated that 30-40 million adults in the USmuscles surrounding those joints.
over the age of 45 complain about stiffness inSo, what can be done to make the hands and
the hands and fingers ranging from generalfingers feel and function better and reduce the
stiffness to one of the many forms of Arthritis.stiffness that often times gets in the way of
Sort of like that feeling you get when it's colddoing the activities we enjoy? A good strategy is
outside, only it isn't cold. Not all symptoms ofone that emphasizes a multi prong approach.
stiffness in the hands and fingers are due to oneAlways check with your doctor for any
of the many forms of Arthritis. Today more thansymptoms to rule out conditions that need
ever people's hands are simply overworked,further evaluation and treatment. But a few things
whether from a hobby such as playing musicalthat will likely make a positive difference without
instruments to knitting to rock climbing, playingtaking much time or money would be to exercise
tennis or data entry work on the computer. Daythe hands and fingers in a large bowl of warm
after day, our hands perform arduous tasks ofwater for a few minutes each day to get the
varying intensity, but the demand is always onjoints of the fingers moving while in a warm
one side of the hand; using the musclesenvironment. The resistance generated by the
responsible for gripping and squeezing. Due to thiswater will help exercise the hands and provide
constant stimulation, the flexor muscles of thesome mild muscle stimulation. Also, it is important
hands and fingers significantly over power theirto make sure to stretch the muscles in the palms
opposing counterpart, the finger extensors orby pulling back on the fingers several times a day,
muscles that pull the fingers open.this will help improve finger joint range of motion
As with the rest of the body, when one group ofas well as improve flexibility in the muscles in the
muscles and the joints they surround such as thepalms and wrist that are tight and overworked.
hips, knees or shoulders, get overused, theLast and likely most important is to exercise the
percentage and risk of injury increases. The jointsmuscles that move the fingers in the opposite
of the fingers are constantly being used withdirection of we use them each day. This is
virtually every activity we do, just as mine areprobably one of the most important exercises the
now writing this article.hands can do to re-balance all of the on sided
Within the past 10 years, the majority ofactivities that the hands repetitively perform.
Americans have integrated computers and mobileRubber bands and therapy putty have some
devices into their everyday lives. This unknowinglylevels of effectiveness but are more limited than
places an even greater amount of stress on thethey are effective as they are not specifically
muscles used to close the hand. Statistics showdesigned for that task. There is a device called
that parts of the body that take abuse due toThe Xtensor, similar to pieces of equipment found
repetitive, forceful activities over extendedin health clubs; The Xtensor is specifically designed
periods of time often leads to arthritis in thoseto exercise the fingers in the opposite direction of
joints along with tissue damage such as tendonitis.how we use them every day it works on either
Similar to retired athletes, symptoms may nothand and allows each finger to exercise
manifest until many years later.independent of the other. As with exercise for
There are numerous theories regarding theany other part of the body, rest is important
breakdown of our joints causing stiffness andmeaning exercise the muscles to the point of
conditions such as Osteo Arthritis which leads tofatigue but allow them to rest, recover so they
reduced range of motion and weakening in thecan exercise again but only just a bit stronger.