work related overuse

[petersichel]

Hi, my mum is in her late forties, and works as a hair dresser. She has been complaining of aches in her hands, especially leading up to this christmas period with an increased workload, from doing too much hairdressing. I'm after some advice on what to advise her, as she would not go to specialist & couldnt afford it, and giving up her job is not possibility. Is there any general treatment to try? like strenghtening the hands? or certain mobilty exercises from intuflow?
I know her mum suffered from arthritus in the hands in retirement, and was given lots of hand strengthening exercises. Any feedback welcome.

[Coach Gostnell]

Peter, is your mum doing any of the IntuFlow exercises already? I've found the wrist and finger segments to be very helpful since I spend a lot of time typing reports, but hairdressers are on their feet all day, probably holding lots of tension in the neck and shoulders also. The whole program might be useful to her if she can make time to do it.

One woman who comes to my classes has arthritis in her feet and toes, has been to all the specialists, etc., and told me what works for her is a combination "foot work" (as in I/F) and glucosamine with MSM.

[petersichel]

Thank you for reply. No she is not doing intuflow, so perhaps that will be my next suggestion, and as you say she is standing all day, and most probably carrying tension in alot of areas.
I wondered about specific strength work for the hands, as I know strength is lost in hands as we age, any ideas? if indeed strength work is needed?

[Coach Gostnell]

Along with the finger exercises of Intu-Flow, I found the beginning (and by now, the advanced) position for Seal Walk to be helpful. Do you have any RMAX materials with that included?
Seems like that would be a good compensation too, for all the scissor-clicking she must be doing.

Just doing that much seemed to help me maintain and even increase hand strength, but when I began with clubbells, things took a quantum leap. Even working with the 5s, as in the Xtension program, made a difference.

With an older woman in my classes whose hands have lost some strength, she began either by choking way up, or using a wooden dowell the same length. Now she can get through most of the exercises with the 5s, some of them with little or no choke.

[petersichel]

I have quite a few rmax products but dont recall seal walks, which DVD's are they on? thanks

[Coach Gostnell]

As I recall, I first saw it demo'd on....Maximology? which I believe is "in the vault". It's also part of Walking Seal Flow on the 4x7 No Intensity day.

[KEVIN TEAGLE]

Jeanne wrote "Peter, is your mum doing any of the Intu-Flow® exercises already?"

My Mother-in-law is a hairdresser.

Peter the Intu-Flow exercises will begin the unwinding of the tissue (fascia) that surrounds and supports the muscles. Also after an entire day, weeks, months, years, of neurologically firing those muscles to do wraps, weaves, cutting hair with her arms at least at chest level if not higher, her nervous system has adapted and now only knows her art. Intu-Flow will help her unwind each day much as the quality athlete who understands that after the game you must release residual tension. Otherwise the residual tension will build and build until pain inflammation based conditions arise if they haven't already started.

Just help her with going slow, as a hairdresser she is used to moving very quickly with her hands and doing intu-Flow quickly especially in region of the hands will just be interepreted by her nervous system as more work and will not be effective.


For what it's worth.

Kevin Teagle DC