Elbow, wrist and hand

Body stress being released
in the hand

These joints may be stressed by jarring the arm, as in a fall, by twisting movements, such as using a screwdriver or opening a tight jar, or by vigorous actions such as using woodworking tools.

Tension becomes locked into the elbow joint, between the small wrist bones, or between the hand bones. Carrying heavy shopping bags with handles looped around the fingers may induce body stress in the joints of the fingers or at the knuckles. As a result, pain or stiffness will be experienced and possibly numbness or tingling. There may be weakness of the muscles when attempting to lift or grasp an object.

As the nerve supply to the arms and hands originates from the spinal nerves of the neck, it is essential that any body stress in the neck is released. In many instances, pain, stiffness and numbness in the arm or hand is due to compression in the neck and not to body stress in the arm itself.