Wrist Exercises
Get those wrists sweating
When you go to the gym you do a warm-up to prevent injury. It makes sense, right? Well, what about doing a warm-up before you sit down at your desk for yet another day of working on the computer? If you’re not buying it, think again. When you warm-up in the gym, you reduce risk of injury by preparing your body for the stress you’re going to put it under.
I know that typing all day doesn’t sound too strenuous, but it actually is, especially on your wrists. Doing some easy stretches and exercises for a couple of minutes each day can alleviate some of that stress and prevent you from developing carpal tunnel syndrome or other repetitive-use injuries.
To perform a short and easy warm-up, follow the instructions below:
- Start with your arms straight, at shoulder height and parallel to the ground. Extend both wrists with fingers straight, as if your hands are pushing against a wall. Hold for a count of 5.
- Keeping arms straight, straighten both wrists and relax fingers.
- Make a tight fist (arms are still straight).
- Flex wrists downward while keeping the fist (arms still straight). Hold for a count of 5.
- Keeping arms straight, straighten wrists and relax fingers. Hold for a count of 5.
- Drop arms loosely to sides and shake them for a few seconds.
This routine should be performed 10 times each day before you start work.
