Give Your Hands a Hand by Stretching Them

Whether it's repetitive motion or heavy lifting, using your hand can cause your forearms to tighten up causing you pain.

Stretching the flexors and extensors in the forearm is an easy way to prevent injuries and pain.

Typing and movements like a tennis backhand stroke can overwork the extensors. Stretch these muscles by making a relaxed fist with your arm extend in front of you. Rotate your fist downward. You can also assist the rotation downward with the other hand.

Holding on to things will tend to tighten the flexors in the forearm. Stretch these muscles by extending your arm in front of you with an open hand and the fingers pointing up. Take your other hand and place the palm against the fingers. Pull the four fingers back towards the elbow stretching the flexors.

You can also do self massage for these muscles by grabbing the forearm and using the pads of the finger tips. Hook the fingers down into the tender points of the muscle and add a back and forth motion.

Sitting and Sleeping

Did you know that people that sit most of the day will often sleep in a side lying position with their legs positioned similar to sitting.

If this sounds like you, it may be time to start stretching your hip flexors.

Give this stretch a try: 

1. Start in a kneeling position.
2. Step your left foot out flat on the floor keeping your foot out further than your knee.
3. Lean forward with your right knee stretched back behind you.
4. Place your hands on the front thigh just above the knee and push away arching the body back (you can do this next to a chair to help your balance if you need it).
5. Repeat this to the other side.

Start with a short session and hold the position with a moderate stretch. Gradually, increase the duration and intensity of the stretch over time.

Do You Get Neck or Back Pain from Sitting in a Car?

When it comes to neck and back pain, you can be your worst enemy.

People tend to get into bad habits all the time and their bodies suffer for it.

Do you rest against the back of the seat or do you lean forward? Do you let your head rest against the headrest? Are your arms reaching far to steer the steering in an uncomfortable position?

These are some things that can make a difference of either being in pain or not being in pain. Now, what can you do?

Adjust the seat a little closer rather than further away will allow you use the back of the seat and the headrest. This will also reduce the reaching distance to the steering wheel. This also helps if your hamstrings are tight by allowing the knees to bend a little more. If your seat doesn't support your lower back by keeping it arched, try adding a small pillow to support it. This is one simple way to put your back into a more relaxed position.

Habit or Restriction Causing You Pain?

Do you cross your legs?

Do you tend to cross the same side all the time?

Is it uncomfortable to cross one side?

Do you sit knee over knee or ankle over knee?

People that always sit knee over knee when they cross their legs will often have a leg point up when they sit ankle over knee.

Try sitting both sides ankle over knee, one at a time.  Do the legs lay flat or do the knees point up?  If the knees point up, sitting this way will help increase flexibility in the hip and the leg should start laying flatter. As this starts getting easier you can start adding some resistance by pressing down on the knee.  Don't force it hard putting pressure on the knee joint.  Stretching more often is better than stretching it hard.  Always compare left side to the right side and spend more time on the knee that is higher. You can increase the stretch by leaning forward, bringing your nose towards you shin. If the leg lays flat try hugging the knee to the opposite shoulder. Stretch the side you have more restrictions on to balance out both sides.

Many people with low back pain can feel better if they check for restriction and balance both sides out.

Sitting uncomfortable once in a while might do your body good.

There are other effective stretches you can do from a lying position.

Most people are stiff in the morning, so why not loosen up the back a few minutes before getting up out of bed.

Lying face up bend your knees with your feet flat on the bed. Gently, rock your knees side to side 30-60 seconds to loosen up.

Place your left ankle on top of your right knee. Use the weight of your left leg to pull your right leg bringing your knee towards the floor. Relax and let it stretch trying to keep your back to the floor. Repeat to the opposite side.

Place your left ankle on the right knee again but this time press your left knee away with your left hand and extended arm. Hold the stretch, then allow the left foot to lower to the foot on the right side while still on top of the right knee. Repeat to the opposite side.

Besides the stretching you can release tension in the gluteal muscles with a tennis ball. Lie on the carpet with bent knees feet on the floor. Let the knees drop to one side and place the tennis ball under the gluteal muscles on the other side. Bring the knees back to the other side over the ball.  If it is too tender bring the knees back a little to take some pressed off. The areas you want to work are coming up and across the top to the outside of the gluteal muscles. You can hold still over the spot or rock the knees side to side. Bring the knees to the side away from the ball and reposition the ball to a different area. Spend more time on areas where you feel tenderness.

Most people feel a difference within two weeks. It took a while to get the restriction, so give it some time.

Just remember, "more movement less pain".