4 ways compression can help your hands
I've been deep in the creation process for Hypermobile Hands Blueprint, my signature program for those with hypermobile hands...
...and over the weekend I created our compression training (HHB students, I am so excited to hear how you're going to use compression in your 'flare toolbox').
At the same time, my students in Healthy Hands Academy, my signature program for those with hand arthritis, have been DEEP in content about pain relief tools, and compression is definitely a HUGE tool for pain management.
Compression is FRESH on my mind, and I thought it would be so helpful for you if today, we talk about why you should consider compression for your hands.
Why the flying fudgecake should you care about compression??
Gentle compression reduces pain
Let me ask you something...when you bump your head, what's the first thing you do?
You rub it!!
Why??
Because deep pressure input to an area in pain can actually decrease the feeling of pain in that area because this sensation overloads our brain with competing sensory information, which can actually stop pain signals from being appropriately perceived by our brain.
How cool is that?? Thanks, neuroscience class in OT school 🎉
Improves circulation
Whenever you're out in the cold without gloves on, how do your hands feel??
I'm willing to bet you answer is something along the lines of *cold, achy, painful, sore* 😫 When we don't have enough circulation to our hands, this is how they can feel.
Also, increased circulation means your body can get healing agents to the cells of the area in pain faster & more effectively.
This can lead to decreased pain and inflammation 🙌
There's also a huge link with chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, or Ehler's Danlos Syndrome, and poor circulation in your hands, so improving circulation is very much needed!
Improves joint proprioception
Compression can improve your own awareness of where your hand is in relation to the rest of your body (aka, proprioception)...
...which is amazing because for those of us with chronic hand conditions, we often are lacking in an awareness of how we are using our hands.
You may have decreased proprioception in your hands if you find yourself dropping items a lot, or squeezing too hard or not hard enough to hold onto something.
Compression gloves can bring more awareness into your hands so you stop dropping nearly every darn thing in the kitchen (speaking from personal experience LOL).
Decreases swelling
And finally, compression can decrease swelling in your hands.
Fluid tends to accumulate in our extremities because they are the furthest away from our heart...
...which is why our hands and feet are more prone to swelling.
Swollen hands can make our fingers painful and stiff, and can keep us from actually using our hands 🙅♀️
Compression helps guide this excess fluid back into our lymphatic system.
When it comes to HOW to use compression for your hands, there are seriously so many options...
...open fingertip compression gloves, closed fingertip gloves, nonslip grip gloves, gloves with copper or magnets, silicone thumb supports, and self-adhesive wrap to name a few...
I encourage you to do some Googling or Amazoning (did we just make that a verb??) to check out some different options.
And if you want more support from me when it comes to things like figuring out which compression is best for your own hands, and when you should consider using compression, consider getting on the waitlist for one of my programs
We have a lot of fun and learn a ton too 😁
I absolutely love diving this deep with you - tell me, what's your biggest takeaway from this newsletter?
Comment below and let me know!
