Massage For Aching Hands Or Wrists

This massage is a series of very simple stretches and strokes to help bring relief to hands that ache whether as a result of tension or manual work. There is little real manipulation involved, just gentle flexes and finger strokes to release tension and soothe tender areas. It can, therefore, be used to relieve pain from almost any hand or wrist complaint, from too much knitting or tennis to rheumatism or arthritis. The gentle, stretching movements are particularly helpful with Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), one of the commonest new ailments of this decade. This affects people whose hands make the same movements repeatedly several times a minute, day after day such as computer operators and factory workers - until the strain causes injury.

This massage is most useful in helping to prevent RSI occurring, so if you do a job that involves rapid, repeated hand movements, follow the routine once a day. Additionally, every 20 minutes on the job, try to take a brief break to shake your hands loosely in the air for a couple of minutes, then do the palm and wrist stretches from the first four steps of the massage. You can easily adapt them to do on yourself if you hold the side of the hand against your abdomen while you do the crosswise palm stretches in steps one and four. However, if you do have a job that you feel may be causing RSI, you should seek expert advice immediately.

How To Massage Aching Hands Or Wrists
As this massage is meant for hands that ache, never take any of the stretches beyond the point of comfort - stop if the person you are massaging even so much as winces while you are extending his palms, wrists or fingers and immediately release the tension. For the same reason, keep the thumb strokes in steps five and six slow, light and gentle, so they are soothing rather than stimulating. It helps to use lots of oil with this massage, not only because the skin on hands is naturally dry, but also because there are so many small bones and tendons close to the surface you need extra slip for comfort. If there is any inflammation of the hands, it also helps if you soak them in very warm water for ten minutes to boost circulation and soothe them before you start the massage.

1. Do all steps on the right hand first, then repeat from the beginning on the left. Start with a simple palm stretch to release tension. Use the little and ring fingers of your left hand to grasp the thumb in a scissor-like hold, and those on your right hand to grasp the little finger. Once they are firmly interlocked, push down and out to stretch open the palm.

2. Hold the right forearm of the person being massaged in the palm of one hand to support it, then interlock the stiff fingers of your other hand through his fingers so that they are criss-crossed. Gently push your hand up and back to stretch from wrist to fingertips. Only go as far as is comfortable so that you do not over extend the stretch, and push back from the tips of his fingers, not the base. Hold for a count of 15, then release.

3. Hold his right forearm, palm down, with your right hand to support it. Lay your palm over his knuckles, so that your fingers are pointing in the opposite direction to his. Gently push down with the heel of your hand into the first joint of his fingers close to the knuckles to flex the back of his hand. Hold for a count of 15, then release.

4. Place your wrists together and wrap your hands, palms down, around the back of his right hand with your fingers curved round to the front. Using the heels of your hands, slide them apart in opposite directions to roll his hand under and stretch it across the back. Hold for a count of five, then release and repeat.

5. Tuck your fingers under the back of his hand and pick it up. Using your thumbs only, make small circles all over the palm of his hand without exerting any downward pressure. It should be a soothing stroke, not a kneading one, and very light so that your thumbs just glide over the skin. Finish off by using the sides of your thumbs to do long, straight palm strokes from wrist to fingers.

6. In the same position, slide your hands along until your thumbs are over the inner wrist. Then do very light strokes with your thumbs working in unison along each side of the tendon for about 5 cm (2 inches) before fanning them out to each side. Next, encircle the wrist with the thumb and first two fingers of your hands and do a light wringing motion, by moving one hand clockwise as the other goes anti-clockwise.

7. Hold the forearm of the person being massaged in the palm of your right hand. Slide the back of your left hand up under his palm, then push your fingers forward to interlock with his, and by pulling them back up toward you, lightly stroke between his fingers up to the nails. Keep repeating the whole palm to fingertip stroke in a smooth flowing motion. Finish by sandwiching his hand between your palms and lightly pressing for a count of ten.