How do you do it? The following techniques are recommended by the Physical Therapists at HPT:

• Avoid overexposure to excessive heat and cold.
• Wear gloves when you can and make sure they fit properly. Special gloves are available to help reduce the stress of vibration from tools.
• Use large, soft handled tools or cooking utensils, or adapt the handles with coverings to make them larger and softer.
• Make sure your tools fit your hand and are in good condition.
• If a blister occurs attend to the area, but do not pop the blister.
• Apply lotion daily. This is not only to help re-hydrate the tissue, but to pamper yourself and give you time to relax and enjoy a quick break from work.
• Apply oil to your cuticles daily to prevent drying and cracking. Keeping your cuticles healthy will prevent infection from entering your body through small cuts along cracked cuticles.
• Sit and stand with your hands in a neutral position and be sure to have the correct work surface height. Your wrists should be straight and your elbows should be at a 90-degree angle.
• Vary activities and positions at your workstation and at home when possible. This will reduce stress to the hands, wrists and elbows.

Most people are now aware of the need to warm up before exercise. But how many remember to warm up their hands? These are three exercises to help stimulate circulation to your hands before activity:

1. Open and close your fingers - start with your hands at your sides and open your fingers completely by straightening your fingers and spreading your fingers apart. Then, make a tight fist. Repeat for three sets of 10, taking a short 20-30 second break between sets.

2. Wrist extension stretch - put an arm straight out in front of you with your palm up and extend your wrist back (fingers towards the floor.) Use the opposite hand to GENTLY pull fingers back even farther. You should feel a gentle stretch in your fingers, hand and forearm. Do NOT pull to the point of pain. Hold 5 seconds and repeat 3-5 times.

3. Wrist flexion stretch - the opposite of #2. Arm straight out, palm down. Bend wrist towards the floor and use the other hand to push gently on the back of your hand (not your fingers in this exercise). Hold 5 seconds and repeat 3-5 times.