Dental Repetitive Gripping:

Handmaster Plus recently exhibited at the Pacific Dental Conference and I wanted to be there personally in the booth. I was bombarded by dental hygienists, CDA's (Certified Dental Assistants) and dentists. It was no surprise to them that repetitive stress injuries (RSI's) are rampant in the profession. Handmaster Plus offers the most convenient, complete and cost-effective solution for dental professionals to use daily to 1) offset RSI injuries related to repetitive grip injuries in the profession, and 2) maximize performance in the office.

Here are the key points as to why we see so much repetitive gripping RSI injuries in the dental profession:

1. 9 muscles close the hand. These are located on the FRONT (flexor surface) of the hands, wrists, forearms & elbows.
2. 9 muscles open the hand. These are located on the BACK (extensor surface) of the hands, wrists, forearms & elbows.
3. The hands, wrists, forearms & elbows are most stable when the 18 hand muscles that affect them are in BALANCE.

4. Dental hygienists, dentists & CDA's develop hand muscle imbalances (i.e. flexor muscles dominate the extensor muscles) because of the daily repetitive gripping demands inherent within the occupations.
5. Dental hygienists, dentists & CDA's develop particularly advanced hand muscle imbalances because the tools that they grip are generally small.
6. Dental hygienists develop particularly advanced hand muscle imbalance because they grip for long periods of time without break times.
7. Dental hygienists, dentists & CDA's develop particularly advanced finger, thumb & wrist extensor muscle overuse (tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), extensor tendonitis of the wrist, DeQuervain's tenosynovitis, etc.) because they grip tools while the hand is in a ‘palm-down’ position. This creates high demand on the finger & wrist extensor muscles to ‘hold’ the hand, thumb & fingers 'up' AGAINST GRAVITY during grip activity.

8. Over time, muscle imbalance due to repetitive dental gripping can detrimentally affect the hand (arthritis, thumb & small muscle adhesions/cramping/tendonitis, DeQuervain's tenosynovitis, etc.), wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome, extensor tendonitis, weakness, etc.) & elbow (tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis), etc.).

9. To repeat, Handmaster Plus offers dental professionals a simple one-step exercise that strengthens & balances the 18 hand muscles and stimulates maximum blood flow to the tissues and joints of the hand, wrist, forearm & elbow.

10. Daily use of Handmaster Plus can easily offset the muscle imbalances that are associated with dental repetitive gripping in dental professions, and prepare dental professionals properly for maximum performance.

Visit Handmaster Plus hand ergonomic exerciser for more information on preventing dental grip injuries.

Today again finds me bombarded with questions about tennis elbow treatment & exercise.
The first is from a good high school friend of mine who has acquired tennis elbow, presumably after golfing. This is one of the most important things I can tell you about tennis elbow: tennis elbow is the manifestation of numerous activities (that cause the core of muscle imbalance), the endpoint action usually being the straw that breaks the camel’s back so to speak. Because this is one of my best buddies from high school, a friend I played a lot of golf with personally, I can tell you that is my strong belief that golf mechanics play a part in the eventual acute manifestation of his tennis elbow condition. But this particular friend of mine is also a very busy elite professional that works on the computer, has works with his hands writing, and is involved in other grip sport activities. What I am saying is that all of our habits, no matter what profession, job or interests are part of your daily activity require the ‘gripping and grasping’ muscles of the hand and never the ‘opening’ muscles of the hand. The result is that most people have a rather advanced hand muscle imbalance condition that waits silently for a stressful enough event that brings on tennis elbow or another repetition type injury.
The hand muscles attach at the fingers, thumb, hand, wrist (carpal tunnel), forearm and elbow – the front of which are made up of the flexor muscles (the 9 muscles that close the hand) & the back of which are made up of the extensor muscles (the 9 muscles that open the hand) – and are therefore at the core of most hand, wrist and elbow stability.
I cannot stress enough that we PREACH the use of Handmaster Plus hand exerciser for EVERYONE as a complement to your health, productivity and performance, especially if you are involved in grip activities including computers, smart phones, sports, music, hobby and workplace ergonomics. Yes, this sounds like a dramatic statement, but it comes from seeing so many hand muscle imbalance injuries. The hands in this case are very similar to the lower back, where the majority of people in society are involved in activities where the lower back is 'flexed' forward, but rarely do we extend the back to perform daily activities. The result is the blanket need for people to stretch their hip flexors and strengthen their back muscles. It is just simply necessary to maintain balance in our flexion-based world of activity. And the same is true of the mechanics of the hand.
So I have recommended strongly to my friend (and I will recommend strongly to my readers) to consult with a healthcare professional and if it is safe, begin hand and wrist muscle exercises immediately in order to offset chronic repetitive gripping muscle imbalance. Handmaster Plus hand exerciser is so easy to use, it is cost-effective, and it strengthens all 18 hand muscles through their full range of motion in ONE continuous exercise. There are just simply no excuses for not keeping your hands healthy, stable and balanced once you've read this information. Handmaster Plus three packs can be ordered online for about $30 (delivered) and be at your door in the US in less than a week.
Handmaster Plus hand exerciser site

A few minutes a day will change your fingers, thumbs, hands, wrists, forearms and elbows. The risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, DeQuervain's tenosynovitis, Dupuytren's contracture, arthritis and tendinitis will be hugely minimized. And most of all, your stability for any task that involves the hand wrist and elbow will be maximized.

Another question about tennis elbow was received from a guitar player who had been playing for many many years and had just now acquired a tennis elbow condition. Upon a visit to the doctor, his options were listed as a cortisone shot or balanced exercise using Handmaster Plus. When tennis elbow is acute and thus is an inflamed situation, a healthcare professional only can advise exercise. There are other forms of treatment for tennis elbow which involved corrective joint adjustment, specific soft tissue therapy and stretching. Regardless of the treatment protocol Handmaster Plus must be used to rebalance, re-strengthen and reestablish blood flow to the hand wrist and elbow. To follow is my answer to the guitarist regarding his development of tennis elbow:

A: Your story is common & is one of my main motivations for Handmaster Plus hand exerciser. Repetitive gripping activities (guitar being huge!!!) create imbalance between the flexor (closing muscles) of the hand and wrist & the extensors (opening). The problem is that it it is subtle symptom-wise at the start. At this early point people may notice fatigue only. But as the imbalance becomes chronic, it can be debilitating (hand, carpal tunnel, wrist & elbow) & that's when the musician or athlete or worker realizes there is a problem. We PREACH that anyone that is involved in grip activities START using Handmaster Plus immediately. Remember when all 18 hand muscles are strong & balanced, health & performance at the hand, wrist & elbow is maximum.

Labels: tennis elbow treatment exercises exerciser carpal tunnel syndrome golfer's imbalance repetitive grip

Q: recently I received a common question that I am asked about - an active extremity condition and whether it should be treated using Handmaster Plus as a hand strengthening exercise treatment. This particular question was about tennis elbow, but I commonly get asked questions of the same nature about carpal tunnel syndrome, extensor tendinitis, golfers elbow, and DeQuervain's tenosynovitis. Because of this day and age of the Internet and such vast information exchange, we can never advise the user to ‘treat’ their condition with an exercise. The reason is that only a skilled health care professional can assess whether it is the right time to challenge the tissues with rehabilitative exercise. Muscle, tendons, ligaments and/or joint surfaces may be too instable for such challenge. The result could be aggravation of the condition causing further to complicate the condition and its correction. It is highly recommended that individuals with hand, wrist forearm or elbow problems consult a healthcare professional that is educated and skilled in diagnosing and treating extremity conditions. By default, my recommendation is to locate an ART (www.activerelaese.com) or Graston technique (www.Grastontechnique.com) practitioner as they are consistently the most well-versed in diagnosing and treating extremity injuries such as tennis elbow.

For more information on Handmaster Plus, please visit: hand exercise & grip strength.
To follow is the response that was sent to the individual.

A: Thanks for your question; is a very important one. If the tennis elbow condition has already developed, we must recommend that you consult with a healthcare professional. This is standard protocol because we cannot advise treatment without examination, as this would be an irresponsible suggestion. Handmaster Plus is used in the rehabilitation aspect of treatment. Again, because tennis elbow at its core usually involves hand and wrist muscle imbalance is vital that these muscles be strengthened and rebalanced, as well as be maintained, so that the condition does not continue to recur. Most of our education involves prevention, because changing poor understanding of grip related activities and how they affect the hand, wrist and elbow is what we are passionate about. That said, when I originally developed Handmaster Plus it was to complement treatment as a rehabilitative tool.

For more information on doczac products, please visit: Handmaster Plus hand exerciser

Labels: active, grip strength, hand exercise, hand exerciser, strengthening, tennis elbow

Q: I received a very good question from a weightlifter who is having forearm extensor pain. Basically he asked if certain activities he is involved with (i.e. weights vs computer use) wouldn't balance out the flexor vs extensor muscles. This IS A VITAL POINT OF MISUNDERSTANDING and SUCH A KEY QUESTION to ask when trying to understand the complexity of the hand muscles. One that has to be realized by everyone involved in repetitive grip activities... and BTW, both weightlifting AND computer use create chronic hand, wrist, forearm and elbow imbalance conditions.
Remember one main fact that will help to clear up the role of the finger extensor vs. flexor muscles: If your hand does not consciously FULLY OPEN during an activity (against resistance), there is no way you will offset the FULLY CLOSED gripping (against) that we do to hold items regularly daily. Stretching is helpful, but cannot correct this imbalance. It is HUGELY key to offset repetitive gripping by strengthening the opposing and assistive extensor muscles through their 'full range of motion.' - and that is why we developed Handmaster Plus.

A: Good question. We have studied most hand activities through sEMG (see hand exercise muscle studies) and although you are correct that the finger extensors are used A LOT (see link above to ‘Computer’) in computer use, it is not a healthy use. The reason is that the finger extensor muscles contract statically, mostly in support of the action of the finger flexors. In other words they contract repetitively (and in most cases all day long), but do not go through a full ROM (range of motion). The result is a static shortened muscles group. Another result is imbalance between the finger flexors and finger extensors, which also leads to instability at the hands, wrists and elbows.

The same is also true of weightlifting using grip (dumbbells, etc.). The finger extensors are constantly contracted, but again in a small range of motion (remember full ROM for finger extensor muscles is fully open).

In conclusion, I think you will really enjoy using Handmaster Plus to offset this common (almost inevitable) imbalance. The weightlifters we work with can’t believe this is not common knowledge, but it is getting there. So many needless injuries. We don’t ask our clients to stop using their hands in grip, we just ask them to train properly and train the opposing extensor muscles through full ROM’s, just like any other muscle group. The result is strong & stable hands, wrists, forearms & elbows. Please spread the word. You’ll now know more than many health care professionals and trainers about hand muscle balance!

You can purchase Handmaster Plus complete hand exerciser here.

Labels: hand exercise exerciser strength weightlifting weightlifter grip balance flexor extensor pain wrist forearm

It seems as if I get an endless stream of workout, weight lifting and fitness folks asking me about hand wrist and elbow injuries from working out. Nearly daily, I get similar questions. So I am writing this blog today to talk about a very key omission in personal fitness and even in the teaching of personal fitness.
Hand exercise within personal fitness is very misunderstood. A person that works out daily or several times a week will inevitably be grasping a weight, machine handle or barbell. In doing so they are not only strengthening what ever muscle group the weight isolates, but they are also utilizing the nine muscles that close the hand and thus strengthening finger flexor muscles. Yet, it is obvious that the opposing finger extensor muscles do not go through a full range of motion with resistance at any time during any exercise. This is a huge problem, because there are also nine muscles that open (and spread) the fingers. This is the basis of a very key muscle imbalance, one that is basically ignored in personal training and fitness. Because the hand muscles that open and close the hand attach at the fingers, thumb, hand, wrist, forearm and elbow, the stability and function of many joints is at risk.
It is important at this point to separate the training of the hand and the training of the wrist. Even personal trainers and athletic trainers can fall into the traditional habit of correctly strengthening the wrist flexors along with the wrist extensors, but ignoring the balance of the finger flexors compared to the finger extensors. Unless both of these muscle group balances are considered, the person is at high risk for hand wrist or elbow injury.
I also often see that individuals and trainers "stretch" the finger flexor muscles and the finger extensor muscles, but this is not enough. In order to strengthen, balance and stabilize the hand, wrist and elbow the finger extensor and abductor muscles must be strengthened specifically.
This is really no longer a problem as we have designed Handmaster Plus to be complete as an exercise tool to strengthen all the muscles of the hand (both opening and closing) while at the same time being super-affordable, portable and easy to use. Handmaster Plus uses one continuous exercise to strengthen and balance all 18 muscles of the hand through full ranges motion. The result is strong, balanced and stable hands, wrists and elbows.
In the gym, the fitness fanatic can easily now offset the inherent problems of hand muscles imbalance that results from using barbells, weights and machine handles. The result is a huge decrease in the risk of repetitive grip injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, golfers elbow, extensor tendinitis and DeQuervain's Syndrome.
Please visit our website to learn more about balanced hand exercise
.
Athletic trainers and personal fitness trainers can purchase Handmaster Plus at WWW.HandmasterPlus.com

I just witnessed a bank teller squeezing a "stress ball" at the bank during my visit. I was drawn to talk to her about it, and asked her if she knew anything about hand muscle exercise. It is not really a fair question, because not many people do know about the hand muscles and especially about proper hand muscle exercise. Her answer was "No, it was given to me by a friend." Some friend.
This is a common error I see that people make because they do not know any better. Somehow as a society we have come to accept the term "stress reliever" when it comes to a common cheap promotional squeeze ball. The mechanics are dead wrong. The theory is that when we squeeze these stress reliever balls, our stress will go away. That in itself is very questionable but I can definitely give the reader an insight into the long-term effect of this thinking. And remember, it is thinking that is part of our belief system about our hands and about hand exercise. By the way, it is also the root case of tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome and DeQuervain's Syndrome.
We do nothing but close our hands in daily exercise, why do we need to continue to do so in exercise. We need balance. Let's think about this.
What I can tell you is that daily squeezing of these stress balls can only cause stress in the long-term. It is a poor if not harmful exercise, but yet millions of people do it every day. The reason is that it is affordable and people don't know any better.
I developed Handmaster Plus so that people have an easy and affordable alternative to simply squeezing a ball. Squeezing a ball will definitely lead to muscle imbalance, whereby the muscles that close the hand become dominant and shortened compared to the muscles that open the hand. This is a hugely underrated imbalance in our bodies today as hand muscle imbalance affects the stability of the fingers, thumb, hand, wrist, forearm and elbow. The muscles of the hand are that far-reaching. So even if the user of a squeeze ball feels good for a short time, they certainly won't for a long time.
Imagine if one of your friends told you to exercise your chest for stress, they told you to only exercise your chest muscles and never the offsetting back muscles. This would seem ridiculous to most people because of the imbalance that would eventually occur. For some reason our society does not see the hands and balanced hand exercise as we do the rest of the body.
Let's change the definition of an antistress ball to be a stress ball, because they will definitely cause stress in the long-term due to the imbalance nature of this poor exercise. Handmaster Plus strengthens the muscles that close the hand as well as the muscles that open the hand and does so in one continuous exercise and is a true antistress ball. The short-term complete exercise stimulates maximum blood flow and lymphatic drainage which relieves stress in the short term and also strengthens and balances the 18 muscles (nine muscles close the hand and nine muscles open the hand) which relieves stress in the long-term.
Please people no more stress squeeze balls. Balanced hand exercise
is available. Find more information or purchase a healthy modern antistress ball for yourself or a friend at www.handmasterplus.com. And please no more bad hand exercise advice!

Labels: Stress ball anti-stress hand exercise 'stress reliever' 101 squeeze

Handmaster Plus was an innovative exercise exhibitor at the recent Ergo Expo in Las Vegas at Caesars Palace. I have exhibited Handmaster Plus in many tradeshows in many different markets and the ergonomics market is one of the most thrilling and well-positioned of any in healthcare today.

Ergonomics is positioned to be a leader of health and health models throughout the world. The premise of ergonomics is to consider both the worker and the workplace as a team and to fit both in the way that is most healthy and most productive. This premise is not only a cost-effective model, but it is a model for worker health, safety and productivity. Our healthcare systems can learn a lot from ergonomics.

Privately and publicly owned companies must pay attention to profit and bottom-line considerations. In these days of 'the tight economy,' all aspects relating to business must be well thought out. Business owners cannot have unnecessary workday costs and interruptions - especially those that are preventable. To spend the money up front for proper worker conditions of safety and productivity is a positive investment in the company's future. It is a paradigm shift towards 'cause' rather than 'symptom.' It is cost-effective, respectful to the worker, and necessary for the business. Our national healthcare systems could learn a lot by studying the underlying premise of ergonomics.

Ergonomists are now beginning to add proper fitness routines to their workers' daily habits. The reason is that even when the workplace and worker are positioned in the most favorable positions the activities are still repetitive and mostly static, or at the least imbalanced. Muscles, joints and general circulation are compromised, even when the worker is performing in the most neutral mechanical positions. This leads to mechanical imbalance - and injury... some of the most expensive injuries that rob businesses through direct costs & worker's compensation insurance.

At Handmaster Plus, we have been talking about RSI (repetitive stress injury) prevention for over 10 years. All of our EMG studies are performed with subjects in an ergonomically 'neutral' position, and we are able to easily observe the degree of muscle imbalance, static contraction and chronic muscle overload that occurs even in the most seemingly meek office jobs, such as computer workers or data entry. Add to that a more physically taxing job such as checkout cashier, or assembly-line worker and we can see that muscle imbalance, joint instability and poor blood flow are predictable and, in many cases, inevitable.

At doczac Enterprises Inc, we continue to address worker imbalance as well as imbalance inherent in sports, music, and hobby as well. We continue to push the idea of maximum wellness, maximum performance and maximum disease prevention as opposed to the aging & inferior medical model of waiting for and treating symptoms. In the ergonomics marketplace, preventing injury and maximizing performance potential is already the message. At is a message that is getting stronger and more deliberate – and it is a message that our medical healthcare systems cannot ignore for much longer because of growing debt.

At doczac Enterprises Inc, we have said for a long time that 'the cure is in the cause' not 'in the condition' and we are extremely excited to continue to work in ergonomics where this message is already in place.

If you are in ergonomist, OT, PT, chiropractor or workplace safety specialist, please contact us at info@doczac.com or visit our website at www.HandmasterPlus.com. We can work directly with you for orders large and small; and can help to train you to train your employees to use Handmaster Plus with our one-step, continuous, complete hand, wrist, and elbow stabilization program.

When your workers are proactive and exercising in balance, the risk of hand, wrist and elbow injuries (and associated costs) are hugely minimized, adding to your company's bottom line and to your employees health, happiness and productivity.

See our YouTube Introduction to Ergonomics I - Ergonomic Exercise video

Labels: ergonomic exercise, Ergonomics, ergonomist, Handmaster Plus, injury prevention