Yoga Back to Work: Ease the Pain of Carpal Tunnel with Yoga
September 14, 2008 by Susan Watiker
Filed under Fitness
It’s Monday again, and time for millions of us to head back to the 9 to 5. For me, it also means copious amounts of writing and typing away on a keyboard, all on deadline. Let me tell you, that can add up to some significant, burning pain by the end of the day, at least for me.
While I’ve never used wrist splints, I can understand why many do. Without the added support they offer, work can get painful. I’ve been seeking alternative ways to ease the pain with massage, balms and ibuprofen. But ultimately what has really worked for me is a steady practice of yoga.
My doctor confirmed for me that the gentle stretching, strengthening and balancing of joints in my upper body through yoga is one of the best ways to go to keep my hands supple and shoulders relatively pain free.
Part of the problem–and most disturbing for me–was the loss of strength I was experiencing when I tried to use my hands to grip just about anything. It kind of scared me. I thought the carpal tunnel I had been living with was now going to take away the strength in my arms. I didn’t want that. So I have added a focus session on my upper body several times a week to my practice. I stumble through hand stands and head stands, and perform stretching exercises that force me to lower my weight onto and off of my arms and shoulders. This way I keep the blood flowing to my extremities and fight off the weakness.
And it is really helping me. The pain has eased, and my arms and hands feel much stronger. I still type like a maniac for hours a day, but the burning pain that used to wake me up at night has almost disappeared. The sheer relaxation I experience as a result of my practice, plus the strength and suppleness I seem to be achieving is wonderful.
So before you plop down in your chair this week, make a commitment to get up and stretch and move through some yoga poses. It really is a wonder how much better I feel at the end of the day. And if I have had a particularly tough day, I take some time in the evening to wind down with some stretches, too. You’ll find it relaxes and strengthens your body, and helps soothe your mind as well.
If you’re feeling the same pain, I urge you to give this a try. A good night’s sleep and a brisk handshake will be just around the corner.
Peace.
I just started doing yoga again last week. I decided to go back as relaxation, to help with anxiety, and it was the perfect excuse, because I’ve been telling myself for a couple years now that I needed to do yoga. And both my mother and grandmother have carpal tunnel, so I need that added strengthening benefit too, since I’m on a computer 7 hours a day. Since I’m so newly back into it, I still have the anxiety, and plenty of muscle pain, but I’m hoping to alleviate both, and soon.