Comments on: Carpal Tunnel Pain? Strengthen Your Forearms

By: g-mo

g-mo — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 03:36:22 +0000

this is a really interesting perspective on carpal tunnel – i’ve got countless coworkers that have had to go to therapy for this as had my dad. ergonomics is so important on a day to day basis, but it’s great to see there is a way to compliment the ergonomics with some strengthening techniques.

By: Bryn

Bryn — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:49:49 +0000

Also one of my new favorite poses. A lot of people have a tendency, even in this pose, to spread their elbows too wide (I don’t always have the luxory of offering them blocks at the gym). But I try to have them hold on to their shoulder with one hand, and internally and externally rotate the wrist (and conseqeuntly, the shoulder as well) and they’re able to feel the position I want them to get into. then I have them depress and adduct and try to maintain that space that is alligning the elbows with the shoulders. but for those who just aren’t getting it, what do you recommend?

By: Caroline M

Caroline M — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:08:08 +0000

This one is genius! It’s so true that we both stress then try to stretch the flexors of the forearms without any regard to the extensors and the dolphin with supinated forearms gleefully unwinds those flexors while relying on and increasing strength in the often forgotten extensors. Great for computer arms as well as musicians.

By: Eve S

Eve S — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:46:40 +0000

Carpal Tunnel seems to be the plague of our age. I have had many students with this complaint-up until now I have had modifications to give them to lessen discomfort but this is something concrete I can have them do to actually address the problem from the inside out.

By: Jessica Cetrangelo

Jessica Cetrangelo — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:15:30 +0000

Great version of dolphin pose. Even just trying it once I felt an energy in my forearms. I’m interested in seeing the results of a more consistent practice.

By: Eva

Eva — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 03:04:21 +0000

Great variation on the dolphin move. Thanks!

By: Luisa

Luisa — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 02:24:57 +0000

I have fallen in love with this pose. It has brought so much relief to my wrists and a great counterbalance to my endless griper actions whether on the computer, writing notes, or cycling. It has become part of my daily regiment of healthy habits and well being.

By: Eva Berswick

Eva Berswick — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 03:28:12 +0000

I never thought my forearms were neglected until I tried this pose. It seems like the years of working on the computer is catching up with me even though I don’t have carpal tunnel problems yet. I have to incorporate this move into my daily desk-side stretch to avoid it coming on. The pose however was difficult for my shoulders.

By: Sandra

Sandra — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 14:58:51 +0000

I started doing something similar at my desk after reading an article on carpal tunnel syndrome: I bring my forarms in a supine position and just press them into the table top. The stretch isn’t as deep as in the dolphine variation, but it does the trick during a long day at my desk.

By: Robin

Robin — Fri, 20 May 2011 23:31:12 +0000

I’ve found this Dolphin variation to be very helpful! A few weeks into teacher training, I was experiencing pain from my elbows down to my wrists. Yoga Tune Up helped me figure out that I was hyper-extending my elbows and overworking the muscles in my forearms. I felt tightness and pain in both the extensors and the flexors, and have since been working to both stretch and strengthen these muscle groups. The Dolphin with palms facing up is a great pose to accomplish this – it really helps to strengthen the forearms while opening up the shoulders (without any risk of elbow hyper-extension, which is hard to avoid in many shoulder openers). Thanks for sharing!