How to Perform Joint Compressions to Relieve Stress
There are several ways to relieve stress. You can read a book, watch a movie, do some yoga, binge eat, have a long conversation with a friend, stalk on Facebook, or shop till you drop. But if you want an easy, healthy, and inexpensive way to ease the stress away, try doing joint compressions. Joint compressions have therapeutic effects and can efficiently relax your body. There are several ways to do joint compression. And in this article, we will show you how to do it.
- Shoulder. Begin by stretching your arm out. Then press your shoulder in a massaging motion. Do the same thing to the other arm. You can also try to put one hand to the opposite shoulder and press the joint for at least 10 seconds. Repeat this to the other arm. Also, don’t forget to move your arms in an up and down, pumping-like motion.
- Elbow. Hold your arms straight. Then begin to massage the elbow. For around 10 seconds, bend and straighten the elbow repeatedly, with your hand holding the elbow. Repeat this with your other arm. You can also try to make sideward punches. Do this by bending your arms at the elbow and straightening out to the side, palms down, in a punch-like motion.
- Wrist. Grip your wrist with your one hand and begin to press it. Try rotating the hand as you do this. Press the wrist for around 10 seconds. Then do the same thing to your other wrist.
- Fingers. Start with the thumb. Hold it with your other hand, pressing it firmly. Then begin to pump your thumb, moving it up and down. Repeat this with your other fingers in both right and left hands. Aside from pumping, try stretching the fingers by pulling them with some pressure. You can also lock your hands together and stretch your arms out, with both palms facing away from you. Try stretching the arms up, too.
- Knee. Begin by sitting down. Slightly lift your one leg, your hands supporting the knee. Then start stretching your leg straight without removing the hand support. The thumbs should be on top of the knee, while the rest of the fingers should be at the back. Now, bend the leg at the knee. Straighten it out again. Do this repeatedly for 10 seconds. And do the same thing to the other leg.
- Toes. Hold one toe at a time. Then gently pull it. Again, make sure to apply pressure to the toe. Next, pump the toe in the same way you pump your fingers. Repeat this to all the other toes of both feet.
After a few minutes of joint compressions, expect to feel rejuvenated and perfectly ready to tackle the rest of your tasks. Aside from being a stress reliever, joint compression is also considered an effective treatment for autism because it stimulates a patient’s tactile nerves. If you want to practice joint compression as part of an autism treatment plan, make sure to consult with a certified physician.