| Each hand has 14 finger joints, and each of | | | | stressful way to do almost any activity that |
| these acts like a small hinge. Because the | | | | puts stress on the joints. Since everyone's |
| joints are small, they are operated by | | | | activities are a bit different, you will have |
| muscles in the forearm that control the | | | | to invent some of these new ways yourself. |
| joints by an intricate system of small slings | | | | Here are a few tips to get you going: |
| for the tendon leaders. The small size and | | | | |
| complicated arrangements mean that any | | | | A big handle can be gripped with less strain |
| inflammation or damage to the joint is likely | | | | than a small handle, so wrapping pens, |
| to result in some stiffness and lost motion, | | | | knives, and other similar objects with tape |
| as even a small scar or adhesion will limit | | | | or putting a sponge rubber handle over the |
| motion. So you shouldn't expect that a | | | | original handle can help you grip items. Lift |
| problem with a small finger joint will | | | | smaller loads. Make more trips. Plan ahead |
| resolve completely. Even after healing is | | | | rather than blundering through an activity. |
| complete, some leftover stiffness and | | | | Let others open the car door for you. Use a |
| occasional twinges of discomfort are likely. | | | | gripper for opening tough jar lids or stop |
| Unrealistically high expectations lead to | | | | buying products that come in hard-to-open |
| feelings that you did something wrong or that | | | | jars. When opening a tough lid, apply |
| the doctor was no good. In fact, almost all | | | | friction pressure on the top of the lid with |
| of us have a few fingers that have been | | | | your palm and twist with your whole hand, not |
| injured and remain a bit crooked or stiff. | | | | your grip. Cultivate ingenious friends who |
| The hand functions very well with these minor | | | | are handy at making little gadgets to help |
| deformities; fingers need not open fully or | | | | you. Organize your kitchen, workshop, study, |
| close completely to be perfectly functional. | | | | and bedroom so that heavy objects are not too |
| | | | high or too low. |
| Osteoarthritis frequently causes knobby | | | | |
| swelling of the most distant (end) joints of | | | | Stretch the joints gently twice a day to |
| the fingers and also swelling of the middle | | | | maintain motion. Straighten the hand out |
| joints. It can also cause problems at the | | | | against the tabletop. Make a fist and then |
| base of the thumb. If we live long enough, | | | | cock the wrist to increase the stretch. Use |
| all of us get these knobby swellings. They | | | | one hand to move each finger of the other |
| cause most of the changed appearance that we | | | | hand from full flexion to straight out. Don't |
| associate with the aging hand. For the most | | | | force, but stretch just to the edge of |
| part, they cause relatively little pain or | | | | discomfort. If the motion of a joint is |
| stiffness and don't need specific treatment | | | | normal, one repetition is enough, but if the |
| other than exercise. | | | | motion is limited, do up to ten repetitions. |
| | | | Warming the hands in warm water before |
| Listen to the pain message and avoid | | | | stretching may help you get more motion. |
| activities that cause or aggravate pain. Rest | | | | |
| the finger joints so that they can heal, but | | | | Don't use strong pain medicines; they mask |
| use gentle stretching exercises to keep them | | | | the pain so that you may overdo an activity |
| limber and maintain motion. The key to | | | | or an exercise. Be sure that you take |
| managing finger problems is to use common | | | | prescribed medication for inflammation just |
| sense. | | | | as instructed. Good hand function is |
| | | | important, and you want to pay close |
| With a bit of ingenuity you can find a less | | | | attention to treatment. |