Sports Medicine
A Crucial Period
Good Pain, Bad Pain
On Your Knees
Secondary Injuries
Imaging Technology
What's Sciatica?
The Female Athlete
Putting Your Feet First
Itis Schmitis
Too Much, Too Soon
Under the Influence
Twisted
What's Goin' On?
Think Inches, Not Pounds
Preventing Vaginitis
That Painful Pull
Athlete's Heart
Exercise & Arthritis
Chilled to the Bone
Measuring Body Fat
Exercise and Your Breasts
Choosing a Sports Doctor
Lean on Me (Shoulder)
Exercise & Anemia
Exercise Abuse
Pelvis Sighting
Hand Aid
It's All in the Wrist
Back in Action
Altitude Adjustment
Tennis Elbow, Anyone?
Exercising in the Heat
Agony of the Feet
Restless Legs
Night Time Cramps
Birth Control Concerns
No Periods, No Babies?
Post Partum Prescription
Weight Loss Mystery
Undesirable Cooldown
To Brew Or Not To Brew
Fitness After Baby
Biking and Back Pain
Swimmer's Shoulder
A Hidden Athlete
Avoiding Osteoporosis
Drug Testing
Maximum Heart Rate
Headway Against Headaches
Torn Rotator Cuff
Fat Figures
SOS About PMS
Bloody Urine
Sag Story
Lackluster Leg
Bothersome Bulge
Gaining in Years
Taking It On the Shin
Aching Ankles
Hoop Help
Tender Toes
Meals For Muscle
Growing Pains
Hot Tips
High Altitude PMS
Personal Bests
Air Pollution
Ankle Blues
Heartbreak Heel
Yeast Relief



Hand Aid

Even aerobics can cause hand injuries.

There's nothing like a finger-snapping, hand-clapping aerobics workout to turn the day around. Unless, of course, your enthusiasm causes you a hand injury.

Exercise induced hand pain may be more common than you think; at a recent fitness convention, several instructors said it's a common complaint among their students - and themselves - and asked us what to do about it.

Of course, aerobics aficionados aren't the likeliest athletes to injure their hands. Basketball, volleyball and softball players, soccer goalies, bowlers, karate enthusiasts and tennis players can end up in the same league as aging NFL receivers - with arthritic finger joints better able to predict the weather than pick up a morning cup of coffee.

For some aerobics enthusiasts, however, vigorous hand clapping results in pain and soreness in the palms and finger joints.

While "aerobics hand" hasn't yet been described in sports-medicine literature, perhaps it should, because it seems to be quite common. (We would welcome hearing from readers who have suffered a clapping injury.)

Simply applauding at a concert or sporting event can bruise the delicate tissues of the hand. The impact of clapping can break small blood vessels, causing them to leak fluid and blood. Even a small amount of leakage in the hand or finger can be painful because there is not much room for swelling to occur. Any swelling at all irritates the very sensitive nerve endings in the hands. Leaked blood may result in a bruise.

The pain from a bruised hand will last three to five days and will fade gradually. Continually injuring your finger joints,. however, can lead to permanent pain and traumatic osteoarthritis -wear-and-tear arthritis - that can seem to come from nowhere many years later.

Frequent injuries to the finger joints causes loss of cartilage, thickening of the joint capsule from scars and sometimes bone spurs at the sides of the joint. As a result, the finger joints may appear enlarged.

What does this lack of cartilage mean?

Next | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |


Order Now!
Order The Athletic Woman's Survival Guide
Table of Contents

Foreword: Billie Jean King

Comments by Barb Harris
Editor in Chief,
Shape Magazine



General Health
Nutrition
Exercise
Common Medical Problems
Dental Health
Emergency!
Infectious Disease
Sexual Health
Emotional Well-Being
Eating Disorders
Alcohol & Other Drugs
Environmental Health
Prevention


The information in this web site is for educational purposes only and is not providing medical or professional advice. It should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. If you have or suspect you might have any health problems, you should consult a physician.


Copyright 2000 - Sports Doctor, Inc.