Hand Exercises for Artists
My name is Dr. Maik Zannakis (Dr. Z) and I'm an amateur artist as well as a neurophysiologist and inventor. My favorite art forms are abstract painting and sculpture.
This is a painting I gave my nurse, Rose for her birthday. She hangs it on her office door for its "calming" effect.
My colleagues and I created the following 4 quick & easy hand exercises for artists. But they're also the best exercises for
anybody who uses their hands in similar ways. They're basically exercises for
carpal tunnel syndrome - either to avoid getting it or to treat it if you already have this condition.
Hand pain and carpal tunnel syndrome can stop your artistic pursuits quickly. I’m a lover of the fine arts, especially painting and sculpture. And I’ve spent many pastime hours painting. Always the amateur, it was my relief from the high-pressure world of medical science.
Luckily, my hands never bothered me. I'm certain that’s because I painted only on weekends. But I've known many accomplished artists who spent every single day at their art. And many were plagued by
signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. I've heard of cases where artists had such
severe symptoms that they gave up the arts altogether.
Want to know how severe your carpal tunnel really is?
Take this 60 second Quiz designed by Dr. Z.
Can you modify your hand movements?
Most artists – especially those in the fine arts – know a simple technique to avoid hand problems. They transfer some or all finger movements to their upper arm. Unfortunately, they usually discover this only
after their hands have hurt for a while.
But if you can manage that
before problems begin, it’s an excellent way to keep the repetitive finger motions to a minimum. And that's why the hand exercises for artists (below) are so important.
Repetitive movements strain tendons. It's how you get
repetitive stress injury. And it's also one of the major ways to invite carpal tunnel syndrome. So avoiding repetitive movements of your hand is the best preventative measure.
Hand exercises for artists are vital
As I mentioned above, I’m an amateur artist
and a
neurophysiologist.
I understand what an artist needs to work optimally and be their best. And I also understand how to avoid getting carpal tunnel syndrome.
So if you cannot comfortably transfer movements away from your fingers, there's a "next best thing". That is, exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome that focus on
tendon therapy .
Tendon therapy is simply several structured exercises for your fingers and hands. When you do the exercises as I prescribe, and in the order I prescribe, you
will avoid getting carpal tunnel syndrome.
I promise!
The best thing about this tendon therapy is that it’s fast and easy to perform. All of the exercises take literally one minute to complete.
Why exercise “order” is important
The hand exercises for artists below provide effective
tendon therapy that's also quick to complete. Doing each exercise in the proper order allows each exercise component to
build upon the previous one. That maximizes the benefit of the subsequent exercise.
The 4 main goals of tendon therapy are to:
- Release tendon adhesions
- Promote tendon lubrication
- Encourage blood circulation
- Facilitate fluid drainage
1. Release tendon adhesions
The underlying problem in carpal tunnel syndrome is formation of adhesions between tendons and their sheaths (or coverings). The adhesions restrict movement and cause pain. This results in inflammation (swelling) which is the root cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. Reducing inflammation is the primary reason hand exercises for artists (and everybody else who strains their hands) is so effective against carpal tunnel syndrome.
2. Promote tendon lubrication
When tendons glide inside their sheaths, good lubrication insures there’s no binding between the tendon and its sheath. That prevents further adhesions from forming.
3. Encourage blood circulation
A key ingredient to the good health of all body tissues is sufficient blood flow through that tissue. Tendons especially require good
blood circulation
to supply nutrients and remove broken or worn-out collagen components from the hand and wrist area.
4. Facilitate fluid drainage
Tendon swelling is the result of
excess fluid. This swelling pushes against the median nerve and produces all the
symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Removal of the fluid eases the pressure on the nerve. This is what the final hand exercise for artists achieves.
A 60-second time investment
For every hour you work, take a 60-second break for tendon therapy.
These “mini- breaks” will avoid hand pain and prevent carpal tunnel syndrome from happening.
Each exercise takes 10-20 seconds to do. Try to remember the exercise order with the mnemonic “G. W. P. I.”
or “Great Workers Prevent Injury”.
G
stands for “Grab”
W
stands for "Wave Bye”
P
for "Prayer" position
I
for "Individual Massage"
Conclusion
Together, these 4 hand exercises for artists are actually a program for “tendon therapy”. They are both quick and effective. When performed in the proper order, the exercises break up adhesions, lubricate tendons, promote circulation, and facilitate fluid drainage from the wrist joint. If you’re concerned about hand pain or carpal tunnel syndrome, incorporate these exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome into your daily routine. Doing so will insure you never suffer from hand problems.
