[Vickie]

Paul, I went on the thread with the exrcises I gave to Martee. They are just the barest beginning and really promote postural perfection. Your symptoms are in your hand but the origin of the problem is else where. So by correcting your skeletal structure you can insure that there is no pressure on the nerves to aggrivate the information. Hope this provides some clarity. Vickie

Standard Form (Basic safety position for all exercises)
Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, weight evenly distributed
between your hips.
Let your weight move back to your heels which will encourage you to
bend your knees slightly to keep your balance.
Your back should still be straight .
Lift your shoulders straight up toward the ceiling as high as you can trying to touch your ears.
Push your shoulders back as far as you can still keeping them raised.
Draw your neck back and up (pulling your chin under) to be even with
your shoulders.
You will feel your neck lengthen as you keep your chin down.
Note: You will feel your back and your chest stretch in this effort. Do Not let your head rock back to hyperextend (your chin would lift to the ceiling in this inappropriate position).
Deliberately bring your shoulders down allowing your chest and back to
expand to full breadth.

Key: In this position your chest will feel forward and 'soldieresque' .This does not feel natural! But we all know exercise is NOT natural, but it works.


Shoulder Stretch Deltoid / Rotator Cuff Joint
Lie on the floor on you back, with your feet flat and your knees bent,
arms byyour side with the palms down
Your shoulders should be down and your lower back will have a natural
curvature, in some cases keeping your low back off the floor.
Do not allow your back to change position through out the movement.
Lift one arm completely straight up, around, and over the shoulder to lay
it along the side of your head with the palm facing the ceiling.
Keep your arm straight through the elbow and hand and only stretch as
far as the shoulder joint will allow. Never force it or just let the hand
fall to the floor.
In the early stages (or on tense days) your arm may not go to the floor
but with time it will comfortably rotate around.
Hold for 20-45 and then engage your shoulder to lift the arm around
to the starting position.
Check to be sure your torso is flat and relaxed. Repeat on the other side.
Key. Your goal is not to lay your hand on the floor, Your goal is to create enough flexibility capability in the shoulder joint that the arm bone can smoothly complete a 180 degree rotation that results in your hand being on the floor.

Read one exercise, try to do it, then read it again to see which little piece you didn't get. Since they are not normal nor familiar they will be hard to impliment in the beginning. But you will get the feel quickly if you give yourself several tries.

Repeat the Standard Form exercise several times everyday to encourage better neck and shoulder alignment. You can do it seated also. I would encourage you to do it in the mirror initially to give yourself some reinforcement.

Repeat the Shoulder Stretch slowly and with great attention to keeping the elbow straight three times on one side before moving to the other side. Initially just do these once a day and after a couple of days try to do the in the morning and again later in the day. By then I will have more movements to incorporate the rotational aspects of your problem.