Nov 14 2008
The Proper Care For Your Hands
Hands are important for doing many jobs. Preparing food in the kitchen, serving meals, cleaning a room, laundry, moving luggage, manufacture, or working at a computer are just a few.
If you use proper hand technique, work is easier and you protect your hands from stress. These simple guidelines will eliminate hand tension and fatigue, making work easier & more productive.
- Avoid using a pinch grip. Grasp objects with as much of your hand as possible. A pinch grip using only your fingers increases stress in the hand and wrist.
- Keep the wrist in a straight or neutral position when working. You may have to move your equipment, or alter your shoulder or foot position.
- Position your feet so the legs assist with the movement when a task involves pushing, pulling or moving items sideways while grasping.
- Find more than one way to grasp when a task requires prolonged or repetitive grasping. The muscles that work while grasping with one type of grip will be resting when you use a different type of grip. For example, use 2 or more ways to grasp a plate or grasp linen while fluffing or pulling.
- Avoid looking down too often. If you must look down a lot, take 3 second stretch breaks 2-4 times per hour. Looking down frequently reduces blood flow to your arm and makes the hand and arm weak and tense. Try to work without looking down.
- Take stretch breaks 2-4 times per hour, if you have hand, wrist, elbow or forearm tension, fatigue, or cramps. Do the stretch that makes you feel better after you do it. Some choices are: Hand stretch - Shoulder stretch – Fist Rolls. For complete stretches, see Work Pain Free.
- Do strengthening exercises outside of work that simulates your job if grasping is difficult for you. This can be done with weights or rubber tubing. The proper resistance is enough to cause mild muscle fatigue after the 3rd set of 8 repetitions, done 3 times per week.
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