Homedics massager

As you will know from reading this blog, I have had a chronic RSI condition in my forearms for over 14 years. I live with it by avoiding computer use as much as possible. Whilst resigned to having this condition long term,  I am always looking at ways to try to rehabilitate it somehow. Usually when things get more painful I resort to digging out an old, vigorous Homedics massager that I bought in the US. It’s a heavy duty one that is probably more designed for deep tissue massage of the back and neck, however, it can and is used by me to reach deep into the forearm extensor muscles for a relieving massage (although you have to be careful not to overdo it). This usually takes the pain down to background levels, at least temporarily.

The massager is, however, still only treating the symptoms of the RSI. What I really need is to try to strengthen the forearm muscles to an extent where they can resume being normal muscles tissue again (as opposed to the knotted, tense mass that is there right now). I have always drawn a blank as to how to do this.

NSD Power Ball gyroscope

I recently came across a friend with a NSD PowerBall Gyroscope (which I’d seen plenty of advertisements for but hadn’t got round to trying out), and my curiosity got the better of me. Amongst its claims is that it can be used as a “Rehabilitation product bringing gentle non-impact relief  to Carpal Tunnel syndrome (CTS), Repetitive strain injury (RSI), tendinitis, arthritis, and all wrist related ailments. Spinning for just five to seven minutes per day is enough to start your rehab!”.  Lofty claims indeed! I was keen to get my own Power Ball and get started!

The units are actually quite inexpensive (less than £10 for the basic model). The more expensive ones have electronic counters in them so you can count rotations and gyroscope speed RPM, which I decided was superfluous to my requirements. My NSD Power Ball arrived in a few days from Amazon and I ripped the package open with great enthusiasm and interest, as well as much hope!

The theory behind the Power Ball is that spinning the gyroscope inside the ball offers a resistance to motion of the ball. Spinning  the gyroscope is started by means of a short piece of string (or alternatively by means of an additional electric base unit at extra cost). Rotation of the ball with the hand/wrist keeps the gyroscope running and maintains resistance. The gyroscope, when in motion, will actually start to produce a gentle whirring sound. The faster the hand/wrist rotation, the faster the gyroscope spins and the more resistance the ball offers and vice versa. The resistance that you encounter is therefore  controllable in infinite degrees, and can be tailored to your own needs (or degrees of injury) which is useful.

Gripmaster

What I have found thus far (after about 1 week’s use) is that it is a really good way of getting the forearm extensors exercised in an aerobic manner (as opposed to the continuous micro movements that computer keyboard/mouse input dictates, which can lead to RSI conditions). I can honestly say that I have never felt the forearm muscles heat up as much, which is surely a good thing (I can sense blood rushing into them, which will hopefully be good to promote healing).  I am also coupling this with using a medium/low strength Gripmaster hand exerciser, and adding in a few forearm stretches too. I am keeping this routine to 2 to 3 x 10 to 15 minute timeslots each day. I realise that it’s important not to overdo it!

Having had such a long term injury, I am under no illusions as to the uphill battle I face to rehabilitate it, and it’s still too early to assess the long term benefits of using the Power Ball Gyroscope with a forearm extensor RSI injury such as mine, but so far I haven’t needed to use the big massager for forearm extensor pain relief again which is a good sign! I will report back here after more prolonged use to let you know how things are working out. I at least have a little hope to cling on to for now!

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• hot wax heating of the hands (you would be surprised how cold hands and arms get in air conditioned buildings)
• massage of the hands
• deep tissue massage of the forearm muscles
• ultrasound of the forearm muscles
• TENS stimulation of the arm nerves
• hot and cold contrast baths
• splints to minimise wrist deflection
• computer mouse modifications with stick-on foam to make them more comfortable to use
• pleasant demeanour of staff (made the visit that more enjoyable)

This compared with more lacklustre treatments in the past, where I received 5 minutes of ultrasound treatment followed by ‘here’s a splint to wear’. There’s a lot of knowledge to share in this regard by the physiotherapy profession, and hopefully in time that knowledge will propagate.

Physical therapy initially managed to get me back from the brink of not being able to work to being able to to work for a period of 18 months, before the symptoms started ratcheting upward again. The second round of physical therapy wasn’t as beneficial, I had tipped over the treatable ‘cliff edge’. Many times I would return from a physiotherapy session pain free and relaxed, only to jump back onto the computer that had worsened the symptoms, and within hours, be back in severe pain again. This was the problem in my experience with physical therapy. It was like being able to take a nice big pain relief tablet, only for it’s effects to wear off in a few hours.

The fact is that physical therapy can’t help cure your ergonomic problems; only you, armed with the correct knowledge, can do that. Physical therapy is however a great way to get symptomatic pain relief.

I did take something from the physical therapy treatment though. It taught me how much of my problem was down to ultra tight and possibly deformed forearm muscles. It also led me to being able to temporarily relieve the pain myself at home by using a combination of an arm massaging device, a TENS machine and hot and cold contrast baths on the forearms. This process was admittedly time consuming, but it did give me some much needed temporary pain relief.

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