FINGER POSTURES TO AVOID FROM A PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Alright, let's kick off this series starting from our fingers! The muscles that control our fingers are divided into two groups: the intrinsics and the extrinsics.

The intrinsic muscles originate and insert within the hand, meaning that they are located exclusively within the palm. These muscles are short and small, but powerful. They are often hard to stretch because of how short they are, and the best way I have found to alleviate tension is to use a small firm massage ball. I have two small massage balls included in my wrist and hand care kit for this purpose - a 3cm and 4cm size.

The extrinsic muscles originate in the forearm or up by the elbow, and the tendons insert into the fingers. That means that any tightness or discomfort can be felt anywhere along these areas - from the finger joints all the way up to the base of the elbow. These muscles are easy to stretch, and you can also massage them with the tiny balls.

But how to avoid tension and pain? The most common posture culprits I have seen are the following:
ring and pinky fingers curling too tightly
yarn carrying fingers extended too far
thumbs gripping too tightly

All 3 of these postures lead to tightness and overuse of the muscles. One way to adjust this is to use a pillow! Just the simple change of resting your forearms/wrists/hands and project on a pillow help your fingers to subconsciously relax their death grip. Give a try and let me know how it goes in the comments below!

**Seek out your local healthcare provider if you have persistent numbness, tingling, or pain.

This information represents my own opinions and does not represent medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider for any medical issues you may be having. **