3 Tips to Keep Your Hands and Wrists Healthy

As our lifestyle becomes more sedentary, we become susceptible to injury because we’re not working and stretching our body like we should. This holds true for hands and wrists as well, which are working all day typing at your computer—at least for a vast majority of the population.

Regardless of whether you work at a computer or not, hands and wrists are the least likely body parts to be exercises and massaged on a relatively frequent basis; this means they need even more attention. Luckily, it’s easy to show your hands and wrists the love they need with stretching, massage and more.

Stretch

When you think about stretching, you probably think about your legs or arms, forgetting that your hands and wrists need these opportunities to relax too. While there are many ways to stretch your hands and wrists, you can use this particular series to do so anytime, anywhere, including at work, out to dinner or in bed before going to sleep.

• Stretch your fingers out so that your palms are spread open, facing down. Spread your fingers as far apart as you can.
• Flip your hands over, keeping your fingers stretched and flex your wrists down toward the ground.
• Use your right hand to deepen the extension on your left wrist, pliling your fingers down. Do the same on the other side.
• Relax your fingers, flip your hands back over so your palms are facing down, and stretch your fingers out one more time.
• Flex your wrists up this time, toward your body.
• Use your right hand to deepen the stretch on your left wrist by pliling it further toward your body. Do the same on the other side.
• End the stretch by rotating your thumbs; remember to rotate them both forward and backward.

Take Breaks

If you work at a desk all day, your wrists are working on over-time, especially if you’re not using an ergonomic keyboard, which allows your wrists to sit more naturally. Give your hands and wrists a rest from typing once an hour with a simple rotation of the wrists and finger stretch. This is a great time to use the stretching series form above as well.

Self Massage

While some parts of your body are difficult to massage on your own, your hands and wrists are easy to get to. If you have wrist of hand pain, consult with a physical therapist about how often to do this. Otherwise, aim for once or twice a week, or as your hands and wrists feel sore or are in need of gentle massaging.

Try to get to every area of your hands and wrists including your palms, the spaces between your fingers and the sides of your wrist.

Don’t let your hands and wrists suffer from potential aches and pains, which can lead to injuries down the line. Instead, give them the love they need by stretching a few times a week, taking breaks from typing, and indulging in a little self massage whenever possible. These seemingly simple acts can go a long way in keeping your hands and wrists healthy and happy.