Yoga not only provides an excellent program for physical and mental health, it may offer some relief to nail techs suffering from symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In a study on yoga-based intervention for carpal tunnel syndrome published in the Journal of American Medical Association in 1998, a team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found an individualized yoga program including some combination of up to 10 specific yoga postures resulted in significant improvements in grip strength and pain in comparison to wrist splint therapy.

Based on her team’s findings, Marian S. Garfinkel, EdD, lead author of the research, agrees that yoga may help nail techs prevent or alleviate their CTS symptoms—but only with the guidance of a qualified yoga instructor. “To tell someone to do all 10 exercises in one day could create tremendous problems because one person may have a totally different problem than another,” Garfinkel explains, adding that some people may find relief from CTS symptoms by practicing just a few of the exercises daily.

To learn how yoga can benefit the whole body, see “Let Yoga Stretch Your Day” in NAILS’ November 2002 issue.

Exercises in CTS Prevention

1 Prayer Position

2 Arms Overhead

3 Seated Chair Twist

4 90-degree Forward Bend to Wall

5 Arms Overhead With Hands in Prayer Position

6 Dog Pose With Chair

7 Hands in Prayer Behind Back

8 Relaxation

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