Things You'll Need:
- a bowl of hot water
- a washcloth
- medicated lotion with tea oil
- list of exercises
- dry cloth
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Step 1
To prepare for the massage and exercise, begin by running the water until it is hot enough to remain hot for a few minutes, but not hot enough to scald the participant. Be sure to take off all jewelry and push the participant's sleeves up over the elbow.
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Step 2
Once this is done, put the cloth in the water and squeeze out all excess moisture. Then, begin to wash the hands in a slow and rotating motion, don't forget to clean under the nails and hydrate with the wet cloth going up the arm to the elbow and coming back down the arm ending with the hands.
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Step 3
Take the medicated lotion with healing tea oil (if you cannot find the lotion with tea oil, just add tea oil to the lotion)with a wonderful aroma to promote feelings of well being such as lavender, you may provide aroma therapy. Take the lotion and warm it in the palm of your hands.
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Step 4
The massage needs to begin with a rotation on the top of the hands with the thumb, while the rest of your hand supports the participant's hand. Continue this rotation by turning over the hand to the palm. Make sure the thumb pressure is not to hard...you need to begin very soft and smooth to build up to a more therapeutic firmer rub.
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Step 5
Continue the massage up the arm to the elbow with long strokes down the arm with your thumb. After all areas of the arm have been massaged thoroughly, returning back to the hands. Now, use all your fingers massaging slightly softer and slower in between the fingers and around the joints of the fingers and wrist; finishing by smoothing each of the fingers individually to each fingertip.
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Step 6
Exercises: Place the wrist on a table and pull all the fingers back till they have maximum comfortable tension and continue by bending the wrist until the fingers are perpendicular to the floor. Complete this exercise with both hands 10 times.
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Step 7
Take the thumb of one hand of the participant and touch the bottom of each finger on the same hand 10 times. Repeat the process on the other hand.
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Step 8
Stretch all fingers on both hands widely and follow this process by bringing all fingers of each hand together that they all touch the finger tips together 10 times.
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Step 9
During this time you need to watch the participant to see if they their hands are becoming tired. If not, continue on with the next exercise. If they are tired, go to the bottom of the page for the massage finish, remembering to continue to increase the number of exercises daily.
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Step 10
Next Exercise:
Have the participant take both hands and put then in a claw position, such as a large cat would do when angry. You can even ask them to hiss along with this exercise. Repeat 10 times. -
Step 11
Next Exercise
Put both hands together as if in prayer. Touch each responding finger to each other of the opposite hand. Squeeze them together as close as you can and then as far away as possible without bending the fingers. Repeat 10 times. -
Step 12
Back to the massage as listed above. Add more lotion and repeat the warming process. This time be as gentle rubbing your thumbs again in the circular motion. Massage the top and bottoms of the hands and go up the arms to the elbow one time and finish with the slight finger pull of both hands.
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Step 13
The lotion is, generally, sticky and the participant will want to wipe their hands and arms. Provide them with a clean towel or cloth.
This beneficial and satisfying massage for persons with arthritic hands is complete!
Comments
smilesatme1 said
on 9/3/2008 very helpful thank you