Taking Care of Your Hands

If you're a regular crocheter or knitter then you know how important it can be to take care of your hands. Stitching for long hours every day can take it's toll on your muscles and joints, and for us unlucky ones it can develop into carpal tunnel or something else.

Regular breaks and stretches can help to alleviate any pain and even prevent pain from occurring. Even if you don't have a medical condition that affects your hands, stretching is vital to keeping your hands feeling good and the blood circulating.

Listen to Your Doctor

Now, I do have to say that these stretches are in no way a treatment or diagnosis if you are feeling pain. If you have already been diagnosed with carpal, or another health issue, please make sure you are doing what your doctor has told you.

This wrist exercise is something that was shown to me in occupational therapy. They really helped a lot. They told me to do them every morning and night. Now the key is to only give it a LIGHT stretch, not as far as it will go. Pull the thumb down until you feel it stretch lightly, and hold it for about 10-20 seconds.

Stretches

Here are a few more stretches that you can do every day. Try taking breaks between your stitching and do a few stretches. They don't have to be hard or take up a lot of your time either, just a few seconds a piece.