Easy Ways To Prevent And Manage Hand Pain
By Catherine M, Staff Editor
Last Updated on March 6th, 2023 / Published on February 20, 2018
Hand pain can be caused due to a number of conditions and behaviors ranging from improper posture or position to even being one of the symptoms of medical conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome among many others.
As they say, prevention is better than cure, here are a few ways to prevent hand pain from being a persistent problem.
Stretching exercises
One of the many symptoms of daily routine activities like texting, typing or even driving causes stiffness in your hands. There are a number of exercises that can be performed to help limber up your fingers, palms and mainly your wrists to get rid of the stiffness. It is important to exercise your hands and fingers from time to time, but it is also important to take breaks and give it some rest.
Proper form of exercise
Improper stretching or form of exercise can cause more discomfort rather than relieve you of any hand pain. Follow the steps and instructions associated with a particular form of exercise to the letter to avoid spasms or muscle pull. Yoga is effective only when you perform the exercises properly and this will in turn help prevent hand pain and its symptoms in the long run.
Ice pack
If you are suffering from persistent hand pain, ice packs will provide the much-needed relief. Ice packs or even a cold compress will relax the muscles and reduce the swelling. Normally for inflammation and swelling, heat packs are applied which will stimulate the muscles and blood supply to curb the symptoms. However, for hand pain, it is recommended that you use ice packs to gradually control the swelling and restore free movement of your fingers.
Posture
It makes all the difference when it comes to ways of preventing hand pain. If you are working long hours sitting in one position, hand pain is an imminent discomfort. Changing posture and rearranging your desk to suit your posture will ensure a comfortable working position. Simple changes like repositioning your monitor, keyboard, even your chair by adjusting the height will prevent chances of developing chronic hand pain. Rearranging your workspace for optimal comfort is also referred to as ergonomics, often recommended by medical professionals.
Frequent movements of the body
Maintaining optimal posture is one thing, but moving around from time to time is also recommended by medical professionals. Simple movements of your arms, forearms, shoulders and your wrists while taking breaks will ensure minimal stress on your joints, ligaments, and tendons in particular. It is also a good idea to rest your wrists on your desk while typing for long hours since this position will restrict blood flow. Complications can also lead to a severe condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome which is the result of pressure exerted on the median nerve that carries nerve impulses that control all hand and finger movements.
Splints for nighttime
There is a good chance that you can injure your wrist or cause a muscle pull at night, due to an improper sleeping position. Over the counter hand and wrist splints are available to support these delicate joints, tendons, and ligaments without you having to worry about your sleeping position.
Drink water
One of the easiest ways to prevent muscle cramps is drinking plenty of water. One of the leading causes of muscle cramps or spasms for that matter is dehydration. Loss of electrolytes can also cause spasms which is why staying hydrated during the day is recommended. Staying hydrated during workouts and rigorous exercises also will prevent the chances of developing hand pain.
Supplements
Vitamin D and potassium are two of the vital minerals and nutrient which should be included in your daily diet, to maintain healthy muscle. Lack of these supplements can cause cramps and muscle spasms in addition to dehydration causing hand pain. Vitamin D supplements are available in the market in food sources like fish including tuna, mackerel, and salmon, dairy products like soy milk, cheese and poultry products like egg yolks among others.
Managing routines
In today’s day and time, everyone has a busy schedule and live a fast-paced life that pushes your body to the extreme. Managing time is one of the most challenging tasks among many other routines to be followed just to make ends meet. It is this schedule and routine that will lead to possible hand pain and body pain. Do not let hand pain become a part of your routine life, by ignoring its symptoms. Altering how you go about your daily activities and schedules will alleviate hand pain and provide relief.
Take breaks
It is a good thing that you keep yourself active and engaged throughout the day. However, it is also important to take the requisite number of breaks while trying to manage your busy schedule to not aggravate your hand muscles that can lead to pain.