Stiff, sore hands are not something to take lightly!

Tenderness and pain in the joints and tissues of the hands is ubiquitous among office workers due to the repetitive trauma inherent in computer work. If you spend a lot of time interacting with a computer, it behooves you to take measures that will protect your hands so you can avoid conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis. At Holmes Chiropractic, we start with ergonomics- are you setting your hands up for success or future pain? Depending on the level of your wrists and how they rest on the desk, you could be adding more strain than is necessary to your hands. Once ergonomics are in place, you need to be proactive about taking care of your hands. Read on to find out how.

Simple hand stretches that will spare you a lot of pain

Next time you feel stiffness setting in, take your hands off the keyboard! Giving your hands a regular rest is the first beneficial thing you can do for them. Next, try out a couple of these simple stretches:

• Fist/release: simply alternate between a tight, closed fist and an open hand. Don’t squeeze so hard that it hurts!
• Wrist release: use your left hand to pull back on the fingers of the right until you feel a gentle stretch in the wrist. Hold 5 seconds then release and repeat on the other hand.
• Spread fingers: hold your hand open and alternate between fingers spread wide and closed together. 
• Finger taps: hold your hand open and alternate tapping each finger onto your thumb. 

Staying on top of hand health in Houston

At Holmes Chiropractic, we are Houston’s hand health specialists. If you want to minimize the toll your job is taking on your hands, give our office a call to schedule an appointment today. We are standing by to lend you our expertise on all things regarding musculoskeletal health in and office setting.