This Video explains with the help of 3D animation how your arms and hands function and explains the triggers that cause you pain and discomfort.

The Arms and Hands

Arm and Hand Problems

Most arm or hand pain problems in the forearm and elbow. These are caused by repetitive strain or occupational over-use syndromes. Pain in these two areas can range from mildly disturbing to completely debilitating. Significant pain and loss of function can affect your ability to carry out simple everyday activities like holding a cup.

There are two groups of muscles on the forearm. The flexor group on the front curls the wrist, hand and fingers. The extensor group pull the hand back and straighten the fingers.  All of the flexor muscles  attach to a point on the inside of the elbow while the extensor group all attach to a point on the outside of the elbow. Herein lies the problem for the forearm. Large bundles of muscle attaching to a relatively small attachment point.

Upper Arm Muscles

The muscles of the upper arm - the biceps on the front and the triceps on the back - don’t need a lot of stretching unless there has been damaged tissue. In this case you should be under osteopathic care.  When the tension in the muscles builds up from over-use, there is such a drag on theattachment point that the tendon and even the bone can become inflamed.

This is the case where poor technique and repetitive assault on the forearm muscles cause tennis and golfers elbow, medically known as lateral or medial epichondilitis. This causes tightness and pain in the belly of the muscle and considerable pain and inflammation at the attachment points. This disturbance reflects out to the hands which mostly work from the muscles in the forearm.

Muscles love to move in and out, stretch and contract. This keeps the blood pumping and the muscle fibres happy. But when they become ropy and inelastic from repetitive activities, the micro circulation diminishes. They become tight, inflamed, painful and very susceptible to injury.  Arm or hand pain can lower your everyday activities. If the condition goes unnoticed or allowed to become too entrenched then it can be a long road to recovery

Repetitive Strain

Repetitive strain can develop from typing to knitting, from operating machinery, to hairdressers, to mothers holding babies.  Too much tension in your shoulders and upper back puts more strain on your forearms and hands as they try to compensate for inadequacies in the upper regions. Stretching is usually not enough to rehabilitate forearm muscles.  I have found stretching and deep massage to be the most effective.

Acupuncture is a great adjunct to the program but only in combination with the stretch and massage. It is usually about the only time that I suggest to my patients to take anti-inflammatory medication as deep massage can be really painful but very helpful.

Feel around the muscles in your forearm just below your elbow and see how they feel. Are they a bit sore or really uncomfortable? Can you feel pain without even touching them? Whatever your situation these exercises will be exceptionally beneficial for relief, repair and maintenance.