I get a lot of questions asking about the agonist/antagonist theory to hand exercise and grip muscles, which confuses a lot of people. What is the role of the finger extensor muscles and why do I keep harping on training them properly?


The grip muscles are not an agonist/antagonist relationship as are the biceps/triceps, quadriceps/hamstrings, for example. They are a co-contraction kinetic chain. We have clearly demonstrated this is http://www.doczac.com/emg.html. The finger extensor muscles contract during grip as do the flexor muscles, obviously, together. You can view any activity that we have studied to show that the finger extensor muscles contract to support the flexor muscles, they do not relax. Hand exercise and grip is a co-contraction.

The problem with this mechanically is that, in the long term, where gripping is repetitive, the extensor muscles are obviously contracting in a small ROM (not opening hardly ever through their full natural ranges of motion (ROM)) so they become a shortened, static, unhealthy muscle group/chain over time, thus becoming weak and even easy to injure. The weaker they become, the less they can do their part to support grip and the more the grip (flexor muscles) have the full un-aided responsibility of the grip action. 

Thus for best grip performance, strength, hand speed, stamina, ROM, and injury prevention, both the supportive muscles (extensors/abductors) and the action muscles (flexor/adductors) must be strengthened in the best way, that being through their full natural ROM's, like any other muscle or group. So for the grip stabilizer muscles (again, the hand opening muscles, extensors and abductors), this means they must be trained through full opening and spreading which keeps them at their best health, strength and function and stimulates the most healthy circulation for repair and maintenance of tissues. In turn, they are able to perform their best role in being there to support the grip muscles. They are then also able to offset shortening of the flexor muscles to keep the fingers, thumb, hand, wrist, carpal tunnel and elbow stable (i.e. not allowing flexor domination, collapse and joint instability). 

By the way, the finger extensors would then also be best available to open the hand in hand opening functions as well... but name me a function we perform where the hand opening muscles are used - none or very few will come to mind. 

So grip support seems to me to be the main role of the finger extensors, we simply need to understand that they are healthiest and strongest themselves ONLY when trained through full natural ROM's. 

Handmaster Plus does this easily and conveniently, plus stimulates all peripheral nerve routes (neuropathy) and maximizes blood flow (repair). Pretty complete, I'd say, and why people get such wonderful results with an array of conditions using Handmaster Plus... compliments all grip activities (including repetitive grip during gym training) so that weakness, imbalance & injury are held at bay and performance is always maximized!

Labels: agonist, antagonist, finger extensor, grip, hand exercise, Handmaster Plus, kinetic chain., muscles

Labels: boxer, boxing, finger exercise, grip strength, hand exercise, rehabilitation

1. Is the hand moving through all ranges of motion, both opening & closing?
2. Is the hand moving naturally, in 3 dimensions?
3. Are all peripheral nerves to the hand being stimulated (median, ulnar & radial)?

 

Handmaster Plus™ Practice Applications:

	Summary	Why Handmaster Plus?
1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome	Repetitive flexion activity resulting in shortened and/or inflamed flexor tendons is most often causative. Bone & joint alignment are affected. Muscular imbalance and/or swelling precipitate a decrease in the space of the carpal tunnel. Median nerve pathology results.	1. Equalizes the ratio between flexor and extensor muscle strength.  2. Strengthens finger and thumb abduction. 3. Increases blood flow and lymph drainage through the CT. 4. Exercises muscles through full, natural planes of motion.
2. Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)	Overuse or direct injury occurs to the tendon(s) of a finger and/or wrist extensor muscle at its origin, the lateral epicondyle (of the humerus). Weakness and/or  tendon pathology (usually avascularity) is often causative.	1. Strengthens all finger extensor AND wrist extensor muscles (see tennis elbow exercise). 2. Equalizes the ratio between flexor and extensor muscle strength.  3. Increases blood flow and lymph drainage. 4. Exercises muscles through full, natural planes of motion.
3. Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s Elbow)	Overuse or direct injury occurs to the tendon(s) of a finger and/or wrist flexor muscle(s) at its origin, the medial epicondyle (of the humerus). Weakness and/or  tendon pathology (usually avascularity) is often causative.	1. Strengthens the finger flexor muscles. 2. Equalizes the ratio between flexor and extensor muscle strength.  3. Increases blood flow and lymph drainage. 4. Exercises muscles through full, natural planes of motion.
4. Osteoarthritis	Many varying causative factors for joint inflammation including overuse, traumatic, metabolic & genetic origins. Painful swelling, nodules & reduced ROM are common physical findings.	1. Increases blood flow and lymph drainage to/from cartilage. 2. Improves range of motion.      3. Exercises muscles through full, natural planes of motion. *Begin by using soft product & progress as indicated. If patient cannot perform basic exercises with soft product, discontinue.
5. Osteoporosis	Decrease bone density resulting from factors such as metabolic factors, sedentary lifestyle, aging and poor diet. Fracture potential resulting from minor trauma is greatly increased.	1. Resistive exercises stimulate increased Ca+/element absorption and bone formation ,Wolfe’s Law 2. Increases blood flow (O2 & nutrients) and lymph drainage. 4. Exercises muscles through full, natural planes of motion.
6. Circulation/ Post-mastectomy, / Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/ Raynaud’s Disease	General group of conditions resulting in a reduction of normal blood flow to the hand, wrist and forearm.	1. Stimulates an increase of blood flow and lymph drainage to the area.
Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI’s)	Repetitive, imbalanced daily actions result in overuse, tissue imbalance and/or injury. Ergonomic and wellness exercise principles are generally ignored. Workers are physically not prepared for their workload.	1. Equalizes the ratio between flexor and extensor muscle strength (strength & balance). 2. Increases blood flow and lymph drainage to the area. 3. Exercises muscles through full, natural planes of motion. 4. It is a complete, convenient and cost-effective workplace injury solution. Everyone happy.
Neuropathy/ Stroke Rehabilitation/ Nerve Palsies/ Spinal Cord Injury/Intention Tremor/ Parkinson’s Disease	Many causative factors result in an interruption in the conduction or coordination of nerve messages to cells, tissues (especially muscle) & organs.	1. Classically, putty or sponge balls are used in rehabilitation. The radial nerve is not stimulated unless extension & abductor muscles are used. Handmaster Plus™ stimulates ALL peripheral nerve roots. *Begin by using soft product  & progress as indicated.
Injury, Sprain & Fracture Rehabilitation/Post-Surgery Rehabilitation	Sprains & fractures are generally not rehabilitated and instead left to heal without thought of scar formation & ROM recovery. Post-surgery cases usually include very little or no follow-up exercise program. Any post injury/surgery exercise is usually limited to putty or a squeeze ball.	1. Exercises muscles through full, natural planes of motion. 2. Ensures blood flow and lymph drainage for prevention of chronic adhesion. 3. Equalizes the ratio between flexor and extensor muscle strength, ensuring optimal ROM & recovery.
Athletic Performance Enhancement & Injury Prevention	Generally accepted principles in athletic training involve strengthening reciprocal muscle groups and preparing the body completely for competition. Any edge that can be given to the athlete increases the chance of success. Many sports are based on daily repetitive gripping in competition, practice and training.	1. The only product to strengthen finger/thumb extension and abduction (7 muscles previously neglected). Increase speed, control & stamina of muscles that open and spread the hand. 2. Equalizes the ratio between flexor and extensor muscle strength, ensuring optimal performance and injury prevention.
Musician Performance Enhancement & Injury Prevention	Stamina, coordination, range of motion and injury prevention are all important for musical performance and longevity. Many musical pursuits are based on daily repetitive gripping in competition, practice and training.	1. The only product to strengthen finger/thumb extension and abduction (7 muscles).                2. Equalizes the ratio between flexor and extensor muscle strength, ensuring optimal performance and injury prevention.
DeQuervain’s Syndrome	Caused by repetitive motion where the thumb is constantly being required to move up and down - such as when using a computer keyboard or typewriter.	1. Equalizes the ratio between flexor and extensor muscles. 2. Increases blood flow and lymph drainage to the area. 3. Strengthens thumb extensor and abductor muscles.

Labels: carpal tunnel, finger exercise, hand exercise, hand strength, Handmaster Plus, lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow

Labels: baseball exercises, batting exercise, grip weakness, hand exercise, hand pain, Handmaster Plus, RSI

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

On the verge of the release of Guitar Hero 4 and Rock Star 2, popularity of (and competition for) music related video games is rocketing. With users (gamers) of all ages passionate about these video games, finger, thumb, hand, wrist & elbow injuries (RSI's like tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, gamers thumb, trigger finger, etc.) are also on the rise due to the repetitive nature of Guitar Hero and Rock Star. Like guitarist, drummers, bassists, keyboard (piano) players, wind instrumentalists and other musicians, hand muscles are enormously involved in Guitar Hero and Rock Star playing, so let's understand their role.

Very simply 9 muscles close the hand and are located on the front of the fingers, thumb, hand, wrist, forearm and elbow.

Equally, 9 muscles open the hand and are on the back of the fingers, thumb, hand, wrist, forearm and elbow

Very simply, the muscles that close the hand do most of the visible actions of pressing the color keys or striking the drums (or strumming). The muscles that open the hand work in support of the action of the hand closing muscles, as do the wrsit extensors. All muscles are active when playing Guitar Hero or Rock Star and are therfore open to overuse and repetition syndromes. All muscles must be balanced and toned properly (through full ranges of motion) to maximize Guitar Hero or Rock Star performance (improve speed, strength, stamina and accuracy) and prevent injury.

See our video on Guitar Hero player Dustin Jensen as we collect hand muscle activity patterns using sEMG (surface electromyography) and watch how easy it is to train all 18 hand muscles using Handmaster Plus by doczac (see http://www.doczac.com/).

Labels: accuracy, carpal tunnel syndrome, cramp, finger, gamer, Guitar Hero, hand exercise, improve scores, injury prevention, pain, Rock Star, speed, stamina, stiffness, strength, thumb