Avoid Hand Surgery With Prevention

Hand surgery can be avoided with some proactive steps. Here are some preventative tips.

Hand surgery can often be avoided with some extra caution and care. Protecting these complex body parts can keep them functional and pain free for many more years to come. Many people take this part of their bodies for granted until something goes wrong. They may not stop to think about the number of tasks their fingers, wrists, palms and forearms do for them each day. Typing on a computer, opening the mail, drinking a cup of coffee, and driving to work all would be more difficult without these useful components of the human body. Aren’t they worth a bit of prevention to avoid a costly hand surgery?

Here are some steps to take care of yours:

- Avoid repetitive movements if at all possible: Many jobs or duties have repeat steps that must be performed by fine muscles, joints and tendons over and over again. If a person is a seamstress, typist, newspaper delivery person or factory worker, there may be no choice but to sew, type, throw and assemble for hours at a time. The control they do have, however, is to take small breaks and exercise their fingers, hands and wrists. It only takes a few minutes interspersed throughout the day to keep carpal tunnel syndrome away. If at all possible, alternating tasks would be helpful, as well.

- Don’t multi-task when using sharp tools: If cutting with a sharp knife, saw or other sharp tool, pay close attention to what you’re doing. Doing two things at once or having an animated conversation with someone while you’re working is an invitation to disaster. Put away that cell phone, talk to your buddies later. Focus on the one task at hand in order to protect yours.

- Gloves offer protection: Donning a pair of gloves is a simple but effective way to keep your hands protected. There are many different types of work gloves designed to allow a person to handle splintered or rough wood, pull weeds or work with potentially hazardous substances and still get a good grip. Protecting skin from frigid temperatures by wearing knit mittens will help to prevent skin irritations, chapping and frostbite.

- Exercise properly: Did you know that exercises can help keep carpal tunnel syndrome at bay? Regular stretching, moving and flexing of the hands, wrists and fingers will retain mobility and curtail pain.

- Rubber grippers to open jars: Rather than stressing one’s hands while attempting to open a jar, there are tricks to make it easier. Rubber grippers can work wonders. If the lid is metal, holding it under hot water will cause the metal to expand and open more easily. Tapping the jar on the floor or countertop will loosen it as well.

- Proper handles on tools: Many tools have been designed to be ergonomically correct, meaning that they fit the human body better. Find the proper handles when purchasing tools by trying them out in the store.

A few simple proactive steps will enable fingers, palms, forearms and wrists to serve their owners longer. Prevention goes a long way in avoiding hand surgery.

Article Tags: Hand Surgery

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