Dupuytren’s Contracture stretches

7 safe stretches for Dupuytren’s contracture – easy and effective

Dupuytren’s contracture stretches are different from other stretches.  DC is special.  If it is injured or torn (micro-trauma) by heavy stretching, it heals with a huge amount fibrous tissue.  You could get more Dupuytren’s contracture if you stretch too aggressively or roughly.  The way to avoid this is to stretch Dupuytren’s contracture with only gentle force.

Key points for Dupuytren’s contracture stretches to fingers and cords, and palm nodules:

• Stretch with a gentle and light touch
• Stretch often through the day

Dupuytren’s contracture stretches must done gently and often. 

Keep it gentle and light

Do stretches for Dupuytren’s contracture as if you are sneaking up on the problem.  Any force should be minimal.  Like it is not really a force.  More like a little pull or nudge.  By keeping the stretch light and gentle, no tissue injury can occur.

When done correctly, people say they feel a gentle tugging or pleasant sensation in the palm.

Never cause any level of pain when you do Dupuytren’s contracture stretches.  Keep all stretches gentle and light.

Doing two things at once

There are all kinds of habits.  Some people check their iPhone a few times an hour.  Others shake their foot whenever they sit.  It is what they do.  They do them without thinking while doing something else.  They check their iPhone while standing in line, or pumping gas.  Or, they shake their foot while getting a haircut, or in church.  They do them easily, casually, with almost no effort.  These little habits are a part of every day.

Get the DC finger and hand stretching habit.  Do it often.  Hundreds of times a day, while you go about your day, you can stretch.  Whenever, wherever, and for as long as you want.  The time spent stretching can add up to hours, if you wish.  This is the way to safely stretch that bent finger or palm lump.

Because these Dupuytren’s contracture stretches are so gentle and light, there is no way to hurt yourself.  You cannot do too many stretches, or do them too long.  The more time you stretch in a day, the better your results should be.

Just a few places and times to stretch

Look for countless times you can do two things at once.  Stretch Dupuytren’s contracture while you:

• Talk on the phone
• Watch TV
• Wait for your spouse to get ready
• Take a long car ride
• Read a magazine
• Wait for an elevator
• Sit at stop lights
• Fall asleep
• Wait for your meal at a restaurant
• Listen to the radio
• Wait at the doctor’s office
• Sit at church or synagogue services
• Wait for an oil change
• Wait for a bus or train
• Ride a bus or train
• Wait for your number at the deli
• Spend time with a cup of coffee
• Get a haircut
• Stand endlessly in line
• Wait at a toll booth
• Sit in a traffic jamb
• Wait for the microwave
• Pump gas
• Sit in the car in line at McDonald’s
• Solve a crossword puzzle
• Wait for the computer to boot up
• Sit in the bathroom

Before you get started – Points to consider 

• Stop stretching if you feel even a little ache or discomfort. Lighten up and do it easier.  Take personal responsibility to avoid pain and prevent injury.  Do nothing that might make your Dupuytren’s contracture worse.
• These instructions do not say how long to stretch. Do them for a few seconds, a few minutes, or a few hours.  Whatever fits your schedule.  The more you stretch, the more you will get out of it.  If you do them as gently as instructed here, you cannot do them too long, or too often.
• Dupuytren’s contracture is a tough problem to treat. MDs get frustrated dealing with Dupuytren’s contracture.  No one natural therapy – no matter how good – will change DC.  You will get nowhere if you stretch Dupuytren’s contracture tissue as a stand-alone or solo therapy.  No one gets rid of DC by trying to stretch it away.
• Use these stretches combined with a DCI Dupuytren’s contracture treatment plan for best results.
• Do not endlessly repeat the same favorite 1-2 exercises. Do all seven hand and finger stretches.  Mix them up.
• Even if you have DC in only one finger, stretch both palms and all fingers. Stretch all parts of both hands.  It is therapeutic and preventive to keep all of the hand less tense and stretched.

Dupuytren’s contracture stretches – 7 safe hand and finger stretches   

Several of these stretches do not require any actual effort or work.  Just position the hand, and relax.

These Dupuytren’s contracture stretches assume your DC finger(s) can straighten out.  If not, you could have a problem doing a few stretches as presented.  Keep the bent finger out of the stretch, but still stretch the good fingers next to it.  Modify the stretch as needed.  Do the best you can.  Stretching one or two fingers next to the bent finger still helps the bent finger.

1. Table top stretch –

Place the DC hand, palm down, on a table.  If there is no table, sit down and put the DC hand on your thigh.  Keep the fingers straight, palm as flat as is comfortable.  Relax the DC hand at all times.  Place the good hand on top of DC hand.  Let the weight of the good hand apply light pressure on the DC hand.

This is the most versatile – and super-easy – stretch you can do for hours in a hundred different situations.

 

 

 

2. Praying hands stretch –

Put your hands together as if you are praying.  Press the finger pads gently against each other.  Keep the fingertips together, and move the palms 3-6 inches apart.  At the same time, move the elbows up and away from the body.  Spread the fingers 1-2 inches apart.  The finger pads should still be touching, wrists comfortably bent.  You should feel no pain or discomfort, only a very gentle pull across palms.

This Dupuytren’s contracture stretch works the fingers, palms and even the forearms.

 

 

 

3. Side-to-side cord stretch –

Hold the middle of the DC cord using two fingers of the good hand, lightly but firmly.  Next, push or nudge the cord gently toward the thumb-side of the hand.  Hold it there for 10-15 seconds. Then stretch in the opposite direction.  Push or nudge it gently toward the little finger-side of the hand.  Again, hold it there for 10-15 seconds.  Go back and forth, pushing the cord toward either side of the hand.  Think of the side-to-side cord stretch as trying to shake the cord in slow motion.     

 

 

 

4. Knuckles to elbow stretch –

Bend the wrist of the DC hand backwards.  Keep the fingers as straight as possible.  Hold the DC fingers in the cupped fingers of the good hand. Relax the DC hand at all times. Gently push the DC hand backwards toward the elbow with the good hand.

You should be aware of no pain or discomfort, only a very gentle pull across the palm.

 

 

 

5. Doorbell stretch –

Hold a fingertip of your good hand on your DC palm lump, as if you are ringing a doorbell.  Apply a few ounces of downward pressure with the fingertip.  Keep the palm relaxed and slightly cupped; do not flatten the DC palm, or hold it stiff.  While the fingertip continues to press down, gently move the palm lump around in a small circle. The fingertip does not leave the center of the palm lump.  Do not simply rub the surface of the palm lump.

The palm lump will only move by a fraction of an inch, but is important to stretch it this way.

 

 

6. Sleep on it –

Lie flat on your back in bed.  Put both hands – palm-up or palm-down – just under the outside edge of the thighs.  Slide the fingers only a short distance under the thigh.  Go only as far as necessary to create gentle and slight stretch in the palms and fingers.  Try both, palm-up and palm-down, to learn which produces a better finger and palm stretch.  With this stretch, you should have no problem falling asleep.

Just tuck you hand below your thigh while you rest on the couch, too.

 

 

7. Sit on it –

Sit on a comfortable chair.  Put both hands – palm-up or palm-down – just under the outside edge of the thighs.  Slide the fingers only a short distance under the thigh. Go only as far as necessary to create gentle and slight stretch in the palms and fingers.  Try both, palm-up and palm-down, to learn which produces a better finger and palm stretch.

Any place to sit will work for this stretch, but works best with a soft padded chair.

 

 

Conclusion

Please take these Dupuytren’s contracture stretches for your treating doctor to review.  Get your doctor’s approval before doing any of the above stretches. Dupuytren’s Contracture Institute and Natural Health Education LLC want your doctor to know what you are doing to help yourself.

Information provided above is not personal medical advice or instruction.  Statements, information and opinions expressed throughout the entirety of this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration nor are all of the materials or products presented herein intended to treat, cure or prevent disease.

• For best results, stretch Dupuytren’s contracture gently. Do not do these stretches to the extreme that you feel discomfort or pain.  All stretches done gently and easily.
• For best results, do all stretches frequently. Find times throughout your day to help your hands.
• Combine these stretches into a larger internal and external DCI therapy plan.

For more information about DCI non-drug non-surgical treatment of Dupuytren’s contracture.

Learn about Peyronie’s disease.

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