Forearm Stretches!

The forgotten set of muscles that can cause unwanted discomfort.

Some people are really good about adding stretching into their daily routine, but I would guess that forearm stretches are usually forgotten.

All of us use our hands, some more then others…musicians, bodyworkers, tailors, people that type on computers, and so many more!

Are you starting to feel pain or discomfort in your elbows, wrists, or hands?  This discomfort could be coming from the muscles the run along your arm.  I am going to focus on the lower arm muscles (flexors and extensors).

The flexors attach on the inside of your elbow and run along the inside of your forearm all the way to the tips of your fingers on the inside of your hand.. The extensors attach on the outside of your elbow (the side that has hair) and run on the outside of your forearm all the way to the tips of your fingers on the outside of your hand.

Some good stretches for these muscles:

Flexors – pull all the fingers from the finger tips towards your face.

You can even do this stretch with your fingers pulled downward – still pull towards your face.

And remember to also stretch your thumb. It will twist slightly under your forearm.

My favorite extensor stretch!

Again, pull the fingers towards yourself. The trick is to lightly roll your hand into a fist.  This will get the extensor muscles all the way to the end, grabbing the fascia on your arm as well.

These stretches are great to add into your stretching routine if you use your hands on a daily basis, and if you want to use your hands pain free for many years to come!

If you have any questions about these stretches or tips on forearm and wrist self-care please email me at nicole@greenskymassage.com.

One way to cut a mango (just for fun):

I’ve been seeing videos on Facebook about the right way to cut a mango, then my roommate asked me how to cut one.  I’ve been through Central America, the Caribbean, and Thailand…the place I learned how to cut a mango was in St. John by a chef from New Hampshire. So, picture by picture, this is how I cut a mango!