Looks like a bionic hand, doesn’t it? It’s actually a device that slips on like a glove and has elastic bands that strap to each fingertip, providing resistance as you open your hand. The trainer (a recipient of the prestigious Medical Design Excellence Award) strengthens the extensor muscles in your hands, wrists and elbows, helping to reduce the painful symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow and tendonitis. It also claims to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis and mitigate the effects of repetitive-strain injuries in the hands.
Google hand fitness trainer to locate various retail outlets. Costs about $29.95
Another option to prevent and reduce symptoms of repetitive strain injuries: join me in Orlando on October 13 & 14 for the Reflexology for the Hands workshop. In addition to learning how to give a therapeutic hand reflexology session, you will learn stretches and strengthening exercises for the hands and forearms that you can use yourself and teach to others.
For hands, I usually have my clients wrap a rubber band (the wide kind that comes around newspapers) around all the ends of their fingers and use the extensors by spreading the fingers against resistance. Cheap, easy, and can be done at the office when the hand cramps up at the keyboard.
I like that one too, Jeanne.