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Hand Exercises for People Who Sew
Keeping your hands limber and healthy by doing simple hand exercises is one way to "sew healthy, sew smart". Not only will hand exercises and stretches keep your joints loose, they can also help to relieve the pain of aching hands that often accompanies repetitive motion injuries associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.
If you spend a lot of time sewing, quilting or doing other hand intensive crafts (knitting, crocheting, needlework) you know how much your hands can wind up aching. Loosen up your hands prior to and during your project with these hand exercises for pain free sewing or almost pain free sewing. (People who spend a lot of time inputing data on computers or who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome are probably already familiar with these types of hand exercises!)
IMPORTANT NOTE: If the hand exercises and stretches below do not give you relief, try this. Place one hand on phone and pick it up. With the other hand, dial your nearest or favorite spa. Make appointment for a hand, neck and shoulders or whole body massage. Works for me EVERY time.
Let's Get Started!
One, two, one, two... great... keep going or refer back to the "Important Note" above!
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Hand Massage:
- Put one hand inside the other and grip firmly.
- Using the thumb, massage the palm of your hand and up onto the fingers for one minute.
- Change hands and repeat.
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Thumb Stretch:
- With one hand and gentle pressure, pull the thumb on the opposite hand down toward your forearm.
- Hold in this position while counting to five. You should feel the thumb stretching at the base and into the palm.
- Relax your hand and repeat the thumb stretch four more times.
- Change hands and repeat all steps.
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NOTE: you can also do this with the palm up.
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Close and Open:
- Make a fist and hold tightly for a count of five.
- Open slowly until your hand is fully opened with all fingers spread apart.
- Hold open for a count of five.
- Relax your hand.
- Repeat five times.
- Change hands and repeat from the beginning.
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Wrist Stretch:
- Put one hand in front of you with the palm facing away from your body.
- Using the opposite hand, hold the fingers and gently pull the hand back toward your body. (You should feel the stretch in your wrist.)
- Hold for a count of five.
- Relax hand.
- Change hands and repeat steps.
- Do this exercise five times for each hand.
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Circles:
- With both hands in front of you and elbows slightly bent (be comfortable), rotate your hands in circles toward each other for a count of five.
- Repeat rotating your hands away from each other for a count of five.
- Relax hands and give them a brief shake.
Recommended Product
I have used this product and it does seem to help if the glove is snug on your hand. If it is snug, it generates helpful heat as well as support. If it is too loose, it won't do much good. Sizing is shown in numbers, which I believe is another way of saying small, medium, large and extra large.
If you are interested, the buy now button will take you to a secure page for more information and size choices.
"Happy Stitching and Stretching!"
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