If You Work With Your Hands, This Wrist Mobility Workout Is Key for Taking Care of Yourself
While the data is a little out of date, a 1995 survey of five accident and emergency departments found that wrist injuries accounted for almost 29 percent of all injuries, with 26 percent of these occurring in the workplace.
Stretches and mobility work are one key way to prevent the types of injuries that can sideline you from work for weeks—or months—at a time, according to Maryam Khaniyan, MOTR/L, clinic director of RET’s Kirkland Hand Therapy Clinic. “Wrist mobility is important in professions that require heavy or repetitive use of the hands and wrists on a daily basis, such as dentists, musicians, manual laborers, and athletes,” says Khaniyan. “The wrist, like any other joint, requires a certain amount of motion in order to properly function. A lack of mobility and strength can increase the risk for injury.”
So how do you know if your wrists and hands are in need of care? According to Gary Johnson, an occupational therapist and hand therapy services manager for Athletico, there are a few key “red flags” to look out for that indicate you need to schedule in some wrist stretches ASAP. “Pain, weakness, and altered sensation are all usually ‘warning signs’ that something is off,” he says. You should also watch out for any stiffness or pain when you flex and extend the hand, move the wrist from right to left, or turn the palm face up and face down. “It’s important to follow-up with your health-care provider or hand therapist if these symptoms continue. Screenings, examinations, and diagnostic imaging all may be used to determine the extent of the problem,” Johnson adds.
As for how often you should check in on your wrists, Khaniyan recommends taking frequent, short breaks throughout the work day if your job allows. (If not, after work is also a great option.) “Taking breaks and stretching before—and while—using the hands and wrists can help prevent strain. Working on wrist mobility on a daily basis can help improve flexibility, overall upper body strength and function, and can help people avoid wrist and hand injuries,” she says. It’s also a good idea to add wrist strengthening exercises to your normal resistance training to make your hands more resilient.
Read the full article (and view a 10-min wrist mobility exercise video!) here: https://www.wellandgood.com/stretches-wrist-mobility/
