So I learned this hand tapping routine from one of my clients last year, and have been sharing it with friends, family, or anyone who will listen {with symptomatic and asymptomatic hand dysfunction}, and I try to do the exercises on a daily basis. Mr. Ma, a very friendly elderly gentleman originally from Taiwan taught me this tapping routine. He also sent me a website with more information that I will link below {if anyone can translate, I would love to know how it reads in English}. One thing he did tell me "It good for Bowel movement." Thats a plus!!

http://www.360doc.com/content/15/0606/08/21796938_476016147.shtml

Amazing exercise clips, am I right!?!?! I put together a video below of my routine, just a few of the hand exercises. It is simple and takes very little time. When performed daily, you may notice decreased pain, tension, or disability of your hands. I like to do these in the morning when making breakfast, or in the shower. As a manual therapist, my hands are my livelihood, taking care of them is of upmost importance, should be the same for you.

Everyday do 50 TAPS of each exercise below {if this is too much start with 30 and work your way up}.

I did a little research on these techniques, they seem to be based on common acupuncture points, while the technique is similar to acupressure as no needles are involved. Depending on a practitioners background they may have different reasons for the effectiveness of a technique like this:

Acupuncture/pressure- or stimulation of acupressure points
Tapotement- massage tapping technique, rhythmic percussion
Myofascial Trigger point release- tight area in the muscle, can refer pain throughout the body
Muscle Adhesions- thick "knot" of muscle fiber
Meridian Tapping Therapy- focus on a thought or intention while tapping
Tai Chi- I've tried similar techniques during Tai Chi practices

Relaxation/Mindfulness- Let's go with this, just be mindful of the sensations in your hands, recognize how valuable they are in your daily life. Try to relax as much as possible, and move with mindful intentions. Feel the relaxation move throughout your fingers, hands, wrists, arms, elbows, shoulders, neck, and head. Try not to rush through this routine, breathe slowly and focus on the activity. Use this time to relax the brain and be mindful of all the goodness in your brain and body.

~Take Care!!

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “not merely the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.” While the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) defines wellness as “concepts that embrace positive health behaviors that promote a state of physical and mental balance and fitness.”

In other words,

I like to think of health and wellness as a bank account. Every workout, balanced meal, and laugh enjoyed with friends gets deposited into the bank account. If your Wellness account is plentiful, then eating the occasional pizza won’t be so detrimental, and your muscles won’t waste away if you are unable to exercise for a few days. On the flip side, if your Wellness account is depleted, then something like the simple task of bending over to tie your shoe can turn into lower back pain that requires more attention than you might have time for. The depleted account creates a dirty domino effect that hinders the efficiency of your finely engineered body. The human body can do miraculous things when you make the right choices regarding your health.

So what’s the bottom line?

We have control over our health and wellness.

Wellness is a continuous journey, a lifestyle. Buying into fad diets and trendy workouts for their “quick fix” appeal is less than ideal. Instead, think of wellness as more of a marathon, not a sprint. A marriage, not a one night stand. Understand that the commitment to being healthy is about balance, patience, and long term deposits.

Often times, my clients get overwhelmed by the idea of long term fitness commitments or get bogged down with an unattainable check list of things they need to have in order to start getting healthy. The jumping off point doesn’t have to be so scary.

Fuel your body properly- eat your veggies, drink lots of H2O
Move- stretch, lift, run, jump, kick, dance, swing, carry…Use it or Lose it
Relax your mind- take time to breath and enjoy each moment

It really is that simple and always remember it’s never too late to start!

My goal is to help promote health and wellness. Check in with my website periodically- we can explore trends in the health industry, try some new training methods and work together to live a healthy lifestyle. Don’t be a stranger, I’m always available to answer questions.

-Take Care!!

Mr. Ma's Hand Tapping

Live Healthy Be Well