If you’re anything like me, you probably spend a lot more time doing things every day that require you to close your hands instead of open them—stuff like typing, mousing, writing, cooking, holding a steering wheel, holding a book or phone, gardening, sweeping, vacuuming, playing an instrument, etc.
The hand-closing list of activities goes on and on…
Constantly closing your hands without counterbalancing with other movements can contribute to issues like arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and elbow tendinitis.
In today’s post, you’ll learn an exercise to help offset the negative effects of constant hand-closing and bring movement you might be missing to your lower arms and hands.
Sometimes it’s the movements that seem the simplest that make the most significant impact, and this is one of them.
I’d love to know how this exercise goes for you. Make sure and tell me in the comments below.
Wishing you all the very best,
Sydney
17 Responses
What an amazing stretch. I have been having some stiffness since increasing my rock climbing training and this is the best stretch I have found so far for my hands and forearms. It immediately provide relief in areas I have been able to successfully get to with any other stretch. Thank you!
Wow, amazing! Thanks so much for sharing!
Great stretch, thanks so much. You are awesome for sharing info with us. Have a great day.
Hi Ricci! I’m so glad you enjoyed this exercise. Thanks for letting me know!
Thankyou Sydney, I have only this week discovered your site. The hand stretch, foot twists and fascia cat release feel so good for me. I’ve had long term hip pain particularly lying on my side at night – how often should I do the fascia cat stretch? I have done it daily for the 4 days since learning it and are hoping it’s the answer for me. You have such a wonderful manner.
Regards, Margie
Hi Margie! If the Fascia Cat isn’t too intense, it’s one you can do daily. It’s helpful to practice it with your hands at varying heights, too. For example, one day practice with your hands on the back of a chair, then the next day with your hands on the kitchen counter, etc. Changing the height this way adds more variety to the exercise and helps move different muscle/fascial fibers that might otherwise be missed. Thanks for your question and kind words! I’m so glad you found the site!
Hi, Sydney , as massage therap , i do this stretching everyday, and in between my massages ( i work in a beautiful open area , on the beach ) capturing the energies from Nature ,to give to my clients !
Ido love to share with them , stretchings to use daily , and so helps their connection with their body !
This stretching is so useful to all… we become very conscious about our hands…
Much love from Spain
What a wonderful setting to work in, Tania. It sounds amazing, and so does your work with your clients!! Thanks so much for sharing!
This is a great stretch for the hands, especially since I’m working at the computer all day long and working from home still as well. I noticed that when I do the stretch, I feel a tingling sensation in my fingers and was wondering why.
Thanks!
Hi Banita! It could be tight, congested muscle and fascial tissue around a nerve in your elbow/lower arm area contributing to the tingling sensation. If it goes away as soon as you stop the exercise, that’s a good sign, and I’d anticipate the sensation to become less with practice over time. Thanks for your feedback and question. I’m glad the exercise was helpful!
Nice, got a couple gentle cracking releases, thank you. Have a great weekend.
Sweet, thanks for sharing, Amy! Hope you have a great weekend too!
Lovely stretch. I’ve got arthritis in my fingers but they felt great afterwards.
I’m so glad this exercise was helpful! Thanks for sharing, Diana!
Wow – wonderful, simple and effective. I loved this one, as I do every single one you give. Thanks so much Sydney.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this one, Laura! And thanks so much for your feedback and kind words!
Wow – wonderful, simple and effective. I loved this one, as I do every single one you give. Thanks so much Sydney.