Finger Anatomy and Massage
Each of our four fingers has three joints. Any of the joints in our fingers can suffer injury or become inflamed. This can be caused by poor use of the hands, especially for repetitive tasks. Correct use of our hands largely removes the risk of joint injury. Massage can relive both the pain and the underlying cause of these problems.
Middle Joint
The joint in the middle of each finger has the most flexibility. Most healthy people can bend this joint a little over 90 degrees in a forward direction, towards the palm. This joint cannot be bend backwards (extended) without risk of injury.
The End finger Joint
The end joint of our finger is less flexible than the middle joint, but it can be bent slightly backwards. These joint are less prone to injury, and allow fine motor control for delicate tasks.
The Palm Joint
The finger joint where the finger meets the palm can be bent more than 90 degrees forward on a normal hand, and sometimes up to 90 degrees backwards without risk of injury (though this backwards movement may require external force).
The middle and end joints of our fingers have two collateral ligaments. One on the inside of the hand, the other on the outside. These ligament are there to limit the motion of the joint so that the fingers do not flex too far, thus preventing injury to the joint. If these ligaments are too lose, giving the joints too much movement, there is an increased risk of injury.
Hand Exercises
Some basic exercises will reduce general problems with the hands and fingers. More serious problems may require surgery.
Make a fist, leaving your thumb free. Then straighten your fingers out flat. repeat 10 times.
hold your hand out and individually bend each finger towards the hand (including the thumb). hod for a few seconds. Then repeat 10 times.
touch each finger to your thumb several times.
push you hand up against a wall, with the finger bend upwards. Do not push too hard.. Hold for 20 seconds
Now push the hand against the wall with the finger pointed 90 degrees downward. hold for 20 seconds.
put your hands flat on a table and lift each finger individual for a few seconds
Now put the hand flat on the table and individually curl each finger under the palm.
If you find that your hands suffer pain from any task the look at ways to alter the situation. If you use a computer mouse on a low table then the hands may start to ache. raise the table or lower your chair. do some research on the correct way to play musical instruments, hold a golf club, or partake in any hobby.
Consider regular massage to help keep joints in healthy working order.