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The #1 Way to Stop Hand Arthritis From Getting Worse



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If you’re dealing with hand or thumb arthritis, chances are you’ve been told to do exercises like finger tapping, stretching, or using rubber bands and therapy putty.

Here’s the truth: Those may help loosen your hands temporarily, but they’re not fixing the real problem.

In this video, Dr. David breaks down the root cause of hand osteoarthritis that almost no one talks about—and it all starts in a place most people ignore: the palm muscles.

00:00 – The #1 way to stop hand arthritis from getting worse
00:03 – Most common hand arthritis exercises and why they don’t work
00:36 – The root problem of hand arthritis explained
02:00 – Why people get “arthritis hands””
03:54 – How to begin fixing this root problem

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DISCLAIMER:
Any information available at this channel is intended for general guidance only and must never be considered a substitute for advice provided by a physician, medical provider or physical therapist. El Paso Manual Physical Therapy will not be liable for any injuries that happened due to performing any exercises or advice on this channel.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care professional with questions about your medical condition or to diagnose any conditions.

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43 COMMENTS

  1. I have the nodes in my R hand. Index, & middle finger, & now my pinky too. The pinky has been hurting lately, getting worse. The index finger on my L hand is starting as well. All are in the upper joint, under the nail.
    I dont think my palm muscles are tight though. I was a massage therapist off & on, for the better part of 20 yrs. Never had this issue. Always made sure to stretch my hands, wrist, etc… but, Now, Ive had a solo cleaning business for 13 yrs now, & I believe its from that. Pressing fingers hard imto a sponge, scrubbing, etc.. so I have switched to using dish wands, so I dont have to use pressure on my fingers as much. I was told by Ortho that I had no space left in those joints, that the only thing they could do is fusion surgery, which I am not doing!!! At least I can still bend those points a little. Fusion would be awful! How would I even hang on to anything? No thanks!

  2. Hello, I have osteoarthritis in my hands and knees. I'd like to watch your videos. Unfortunately, I don't speak English. Could you please add Turkish subtitles? Please.

  3. Would you like to make a video about the massage and breaking scar adhesions? It seems like nearly every exercise (even the ones you showed) irritates my knees causing "rubbing/cutting" sensation afterwards and "the sensation of pulled/tight muscles" if I use the resistance band for the clam shell exercise, for example (Patello Femoral Symptoms), but when I attended my first session of legs' massage I felt much better. I also put some oil on my quadriceps recently and ran the handle of the butter knife… I discovered two thick adhesions above my right and left knees. They felt like "a mountain". The knife handle stopped there… I think it's from playing badminton. I also have tight IT bands (the massage person told me this). So, I came to the conclusion that all I need at the moment is to break these adhesions and to have massage sessions with dry needles, possibly.

  4. My poor fingers are curling on the ends from the last joint to the end of my finger. Was told by a spine doctor it was from smoking. What about my severe cervical and lumbar stenosis ? Thank you for the video

  5. Just my testimony. In 2021 my right thumb was literally sticking out and I couldn't bend it. Went to doctor and he said I had trigger finger and probably needed surgery. In that same year I started taking Neem pills because I read it was good for preventing covid. About 6 months after taking Neem my trigger finger completely disappeared. Im guessing the anti inflammatory properties of Neem worked.

  6. What great information! Please teach us more about this! So, I am very much right hand dominant and I have trigger finger on that hand on the middle finger. I’m trying all the time to learn a better way to move my hands functionally. You are such a blessing! Thank you for sharing your awesome knowledge!

  7. Last year I got a deep cut at the base of my thumb. The outer side is still numb from nerves being severed. I have recovered its motion but when I touch the end of my thumb to the base of my little finger, my index finger crooks over automatically. The opposite hand doesn't. I have had severe arthritis for many years now (almost no cartilage in my joints) but it seldom hurts anymore unless I stress my hands doing things like knitting or crocheting for too long without resting my hands. Do I need exercises to strengthen the index finger?

  8. Since I got patellar issues I've stopped dancing cold turkey and then got really depressed and not moving much. That caused a chain reaction that started up my finger and elbow pain on my non-dominant side. I'm happy to at least know what I have to do to improve these issues. Thank you, Dr.

  9. Chinese exercise balls are a great way to increase the isolated movement of the palm muscles. You increase strength/stamina by increasing the time you move the balls in circular motion around in the palm of your hand. Easy to do while sitting and watching TV.

  10. working for 30+ years as a master barber & ive had arthritis in my right hand from opening & closing scissors about a billion times a day… went "carnivore" for gut problems, & as a happy accident, my arthritis went away… been 6 years now & no arthritis pains in that right hand (thumb in perticular) thank u for all ur videos, ive learned alot & very grateful

  11. This all makes sense to me. My thumbs and wrists are killing me. I have RA. I haven't made a fist in 2 months. I use the hand gripper as best as I can but my hands are too small to use the hand grip exerciser and fingers are involved when I use it.

  12. My family has rheumatoid arthritis. As a young girl I was and still am pretty tiny but I always had big knuckles since a senior in high school. Even while I lifted weights and was super strong , my hands never hurt – they are just not very attractive. I keep my nails done always, but oh I wish there was a way to fix or slim this type of arthritis – plastic surgery yet??? 😉

  13. Thank you. I sent you a question previously about this as concerned for my hubby who is a retired decorator and gets cramp like symptoms and fingers that stick then almost flick up from the stuck position(not kidding you), will this help? Regard, Mary in Solihull UK Thanks!

  14. OK, I'm 78 and I have very small hands that have some arthritis and I also have Dupuytren's contracture in both hands which isn't too bad yet although I can't place my right palm completely flat. I do have issues opening things. And yes the top of my hands don't have much meat at all. Would these exercises be helpful for me? My arthritis isn't very painful but I'd like to have stronger hands.

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