Home Treatment for Repetitive Stress Injury

The rainy days of winter are come again, and I’m huddling inside with hot chocolate and a purring cat on my lap. It’s pretty cozy, but it’s also been chilly of late! In the winter time, it’s hard to stay warm without pumping up the heater and paying hefty gas bills… meanwhile, when it’s cold, your fingers are more likely to be stiff and swollen, especially if you already have arthritis or overuse injuries.

Typing is like any other workout –your hands need to stay quick and flexible. So how do you keep them warm in the winter? I suggest wearing gloves — hand warmers or half-fingered gloves will keep your fingers free so you still have a good range of motion for typing, and they’ll keep your wrists and palms snug and warm too.

I have a few pairs of half-fingered and no-finger gloves I crocheted years back, and recently I was just gifted a pair by a friend who is a wonderful knitter! I’m going to try posting a picture so you can take a look.If you know a friend who knits or crochets, you can ask them to make you some. It’s easy to find or develop a pattern and fun to pick out new colors and materials. I recommend 2 or 3 ply, wool or cotton– some natural fiber, because they help your hands breathe. Wool is quite warm. Acrylic can be warm and comfortable too, and there’s a great range of colors and textures available, although you might find yourself with sweaty palms, because the synthetics don’t breathe as easily.

If you don’t know a knitter/crocheter, some stores (including hardware stores) may carry half-fingered gloves– or you can be creative about ways to convert your own. Cut the end off a warm sock and cut a thumb hole, or cut the fingers off your favorite pair of full-finger gloves — be sure to sew up or use fabric glue to seal the ends so they don’t unravel.

Last but not least, post your pictures — or links to your fave patterns — in the comments section to inspire everyone with your craftsmanship.

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