New client with carpal tunnel. Do’s & Don’ts
Hi Kerry,
in addition to the comments of the previous posters, I’d suggest you look at the MELT Hand Treatment for this client. Jennifer mentioned balls to roll out the hand, and the MELT Hand Treatment takes this into a structured form. I have seen good results with it.
Karin Singleton
www.meltnc.com
The fastest and safer way to deal with this is to talk to her/his physician to see if they suggest any exercises for your client. Sometimes modifications and corrective exercises might not be enough to relieve or eliminate the pain and physical therapy or medication could be an option. Some of the suggestions that others have presented are good, but only if you know for sure they will work and not make things worst. You also need to figure out what the source of her condition is, because if you don’t deal with that first she might not see much improvement.
As a Pilates Instructor if we do any kneeling or plank type exercises I have them use a yoga block or hold dumbells to keep the wrists straight. When doing upper body exercises it’s important again to keep the wrists straight and doing the bending or pulling. I like to use little massage balls to roll out the palm of the hand and wrist. This helps with lubrication of the joints.
Best to you!
Jennifer
Hi Kerry,
Of course the obvious answer is… ask their doctor or physical therapist.
Here’s my two cents from personal experience though- my sister had carpal tunnel from working at a computer all day for the last 10+ years and I have really weak wrists from being a dental hygienist for the last 6. We both opened a fitness studio last year and we were the only 2 instructors for a long time. She was teaching SURFSET (TONS of planks & push-ups) and was in a lot of discomfort for a while. She even thought about wrist guards. After teaching for a few months and doing the exercises little by little with modifications, she doesn’t complain of pain at all anymore. She thinks that her wrists got stronger from it. Mine also feel much better since I have been doing PiYo.
When I did do personal training for my sister, I just listened to her and modified if something hurt. A few modifications I did were:
*light resistance bands for biceps curls instead of dumbbells
*forearm planks
*tricep push-ups on her knees
AGAIN… I’m not a doctor, this is just my personal experience with it.
Hope this helps 🙂
~Karen