When sciatica type symptoms get the better of you and nothing you do seems to make it better, here is a guide, a checklist for suggested corrective actions and treatments. (Synthesized from my 19 years as a Neuromuscular Therapist in the Boston area and from the medical text by Drs.Travell and Simons, Myofacial Pain and […]
Tension in the front of your neck can block the flow of blood and nerve signals down your arm. Stretching helps. When the nerves and blood vessels are blocked, the symptoms resulting in the arms can be painful. The thoracic outlet is where the neurovascular structures exit to go down the arm. The nerves come […]
Entrapment by the pectoralis minor muscle can block blood and nerve flow to the arms causing pain, tingling, numbness (dysesthesia) and unusual sensations (parasthesias). The pectoralis minor’s very strong tendon overlies the brachial plexus of nerves and the axillary artery that make up the neurovascular bundle that serves the arm. When the muscle is tight […]
The hard-hitting repetitive moves of tennis cause pain at the lateral epicondyle of the elbow. The pain comes from one or both of two muscle sources, the supinator muscle and the extensor muscles of the hand and fingers. Effective stretching using Active Isolated Stretching methods is an important treatment for maintenance, prevention and pain relief. […]
The grip on the golf club when addressing the ball flexes or bends the wrist, bringing the little finger side of hand closer to the forearm. That action uses the ulnar wrist flexors that attach the pinkie side of the wrist to the inner elbow (medial epicondyle of the humerus), flexing and deviating the wrist […]
To heal arm and hand pain, daily warm-ups are beneficial before you stretch or exercise. Aerobic activity will increase healing by increasing blood flow and oxygen. The previous post presents suggestions for stretches that are helpful for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. 1) Half head rolls: Start with your ear at one shoulder and your face looking […]
Stretches that keep the arms straight help those with Cubital Tunnel Syndrome open up the muscles that block healing. 1) The blood flow necessary for healing increases when the muscles in the chest and front of the shoulders are lengthened and relaxed. 2) Releasing the triceps tendon and it’s muscle attachments at the inner elbow […]
This is a series on arm and hand pain. If you missed the beginning, go back to the “Checklist of Causes.” DeQuervain’s Syndrome (stenosing tenosynovitis) can produce a very painful condition at the wrist at the base of the thumb. (Stenosis refers to the narrowing of a canal or duct, tenosynovitis to inflammation of the […]
This is a series on arm and hand pain. If you missed the beginning, go back to the “Checklist of Causes.” In my Neuromuscular Therapy center near Boston, I treat arm and hand pain caused by texting and computer use. The opponens muscles of the little finger and thumb are on the outsides of the […]
This is a series on arm and hand pain causes. If you missed the beginning, go back to the Checklist. Treating arm and hand pain is an important part of my Neuromuscular Therapy practice near Boston. Our culture loves the relaxed look! Back rounded, head forward, slouched and cool. Standing up straight, chest proud, chin […]