| Muscles in the forearm flex and extend the wrist | | | | which is likely to cause more strain and thus feed |
| and are the activators of the fingers and many | | | | back into this cycle of pain and tensing. Therefore, |
| of the movements of the thumb. The tendons of | | | | if you are changing the way that you use your |
| these muscles are held in place by retinacula as | | | | wrists, you need to consciously relax the rest of |
| they pass over the wrist. If the flexor muscles | | | | your body (particularly your arms, shoulders and |
| are consistently overused, their tendons can swell | | | | upper back) to ensure that these associated |
| up, pressing on and affecting the nerves and | | | | tensions don't draw you back into your old habits. |
| blood vessels which pass with them under the | | | | Do not continue doing strokes that strain your |
| flexor retinaculum. Tenosynovitis is inflammation | | | | wrists. Find alternatives. Rest them and If you |
| of the inner lining of the tendon sheath which is | | | | have persistent pain, especially if it persists when |
| generally caused by overuse, especially when | | | | you're not working, seek specialist help. Regular |
| working awkwardly and/or repetitively. It is most | | | | massage can help, preferably as a preventative |
| common in the tendons of the wrist and hand, | | | | measure but also by giving some relief from the |
| where it can cause tenderness or pain in the | | | | pain/tensing cycle if there are already problems. |
| tendon, often gives rise to swelling, and can lead | | | | Many people find that acupuncture and |
| to restricted movement. It can also lead to carpal | | | | osteopathy/chiropractic/ physiotherapy can |
| tunnel syndrome, in which pressure on the median | | | | reduce an established problem and sometimes |
| nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel | | | | relieve it totally. A reminder here - it's always |
| causes numbness, tingling and/or pain in the | | | | useful to prepare for doing massages, and to |
| thumb, index and middle fingers. In the worst | | | | release any accumulated tensions afterwards, by |
| situation it can also lead to loss of control in parts | | | | doing simple exercises to mobilise your shoulders |
| of the hard. Wrist problems are not unique to a | | | | and arms, exercise your wrists, move your |
| masseuse. Any activity which involves the hands | | | | thumbs and curl and uncurl your fingers. |
| in constant, regular or repetitive activity can lead | | | | Having the wrist bent - Many techniques involve |
| to problems. | | | | varying the angle of your wrists within the stroke. |
| Tenosynovitis at the wrist and carpal tunnel | | | | This is fine for light strokes such as brushing |
| syndrome are common occupational problems for | | | | across the tissues. And if you are doing |
| hairdressers and musicians, for people doing | | | | percussion strokes, it's important that you keep |
| regular computer work (which is very widespread | | | | your wrists supple and able to move. However, |
| these days) or involved in building work or factory | | | | the greatest strain on your wrist in massage |
| work (particularly on production lines). If you are a | | | | comes from having it consistently bent when you |
| masseuse and also using your hands consistently | | | | are applying pressure. Even when you are only |
| for other activities, such as typing, gardening, DIY | | | | applying light pressure, it's good to cultivate the |
| or playing musical instruments, you need to be | | | | habit of keeping it relatively straight. And, when |
| especially careful of your wrists. | | | | you are applying sustained pressure, it's crucial to |
| Wrist problems in massage | | | | minimise the bending of your wrist, which is not |
| It is primarily the cumulative effect of techniques | | | | shaped to work powerfully at an angle. |
| that involve pushing or pressing that cause | | | | So the angle of the wrist and support for it are |
| problems, especially if you are doing them with | | | | important. It's also crucial to keep your hands as |
| your wrist bent. Pulling techniques, which put much | | | | relaxed as possible. Monitor your wrist use |
| less pressure through the wrists, generally only | | | | carefully, so that adapting to any discomforts |
| lead to problems if they are done with the wrist | | | | becomes an integral and automatic part of doing |
| consistently bent. However, even with the best | | | | massages. And remember to vary your massage |
| positioning of your wrist, there is still quite a | | | | techniques. Even with best practice - a straight, |
| pressure passing through it, so learning to use | | | | supported wrist - there is still pressure on your |
| your forearm and elbow is also very helpful, | | | | wrist. So it's wise to include pulling, lifting and |
| particularly if you have small hands or slender | | | | stretching techniques in your massage |
| wrists. Bear in mind that if you are straining your | | | | treatments, whenever possible, to lessen the |
| wrists and/or hands, you are also likely to be | | | | compressive forces that are going through your |
| tensing your shoulders as part of an instinctive | | | | wrist. And to save your wrist entirely, whenever |
| body reaction. You may also be holding your | | | | you can, by learning to use your forearm and |
| breath and stiffening your back. In fact you could | | | | elbow skillfully. |
| be unconsciously tensing throughout your body, | | | | |