7 ways – stretch Dupuytren’s contracture safely and effectively

Dupuytren’s Contracture stretches – anywhere, anytime

Stretch Dupuytren’s contracture fingers and cords, and the palm nodules, in two key ways:

• Use a gentle and light touch
• Stretch as often as possible

Look at a finger bent over by Dupuytren’s contracture.  The first thing you want to do is to stretch Dupuytren’s contracture good and hard to straighten it.  Not so.  Aggressive stretching can do more harm than good.  Tiny tears, or micro-trauma, can develop that can result in even more Dupuytren’s contracture, or worsening of an existing problem.

Stretch Dupuytren’s contracture gently, and often, to be effective. 

How gentle is gentle?

Do Dupuytren’s contracture stretches with the idea of sneaking up on it.  Use so little stretching force that it is not really a force, but more like a little pull or nudge.  The touch should be so gentle that the tissue does not offer resistance to the light stretch.

People report they can feel when the gentle stretching is correct.  When the finger stretching is just right, they feel a pleasant tugging or gentle glow sensation across the palm.

Never produce pain.  Do not even get close to feeling the beginning of pain.  Keep stretching light and gentle.

How often is often?

Some people smile often. Other people hum all day long.  Some chew gum, check their iPhone, or say “you know?” all day long.  It is what they do.  For some reason, they developed a habit.  They now do their habit easily, frequently without much thought.  Like smiling while while waiting for an elevator.  Or, chewing gum while doing a crossword puzzle.  You get the idea. They do their habit while doing other things.

Get into a finger stretching habit.  Stretch your Dupuytren’s contracture while doing other things. Do it often. Whenever and wherever you have an opportunity. Two minutes here, 30 seconds there, can really add up. The total time can easily be – with no effort – an hour or two each day.

You cannot overdo, or hurt yourself, if you do the stretches gently. The more time you stretch in a day, the better your results should be.

Places and times to stretch Dupuytren’s contracture

You are awake 16 hours a day.  Look for all the times and places you can do two things at once:

• Watching television – Huge
• At all those stop lights
• While trying to fall asleep
• Reading the newspaper
• Walking down the street
• Waiting for an elevator
• Waiting at the restaurant
• Listening to the radio
• In line at McDonald’s
• Doing a crossword puzzle
• Sitting in the bathroom
• Anytime your hands are idle
• Talking on the phone – Huge
• Waiting at the dentist’s office
• At church or synagogue
• Waiting for an oil change
• Down-time at work
• Sitting around with friends
• Waiting for the bus or train
• Riding on a bus or train
• Relaxing with a cup of coffee
• On long car rides
• Getting a haircut
• Standing in line – Huge
• Stuck in a traffic jamb
• At the toll booth
• Waiting for the microwave
• Pumping gas
• While fishing and hunting
• Your biggest personal time waster – Huge

Before starting to stretch Dupuytren’s contracture  

• None of these instructions say how long to stretch. You can do them as briefly or as long as you wish.  Do the stretches a few seconds, a few minutes, or a few hours.  The more time you put into it – the more you get out of it. You cannot hurt yourself by doing them too long, or too often. The important thing is that you do them.
• If you feel even a little ache or discomfort when stretching, ease up and do it easier. Avoid pain to avoid injury.  Do not make your Dupuytren’s contracture worse.
• Do not do the same favorite 1-2 exercises repeatedly.  Use them all during the course of a day.  No matter where you are or what you are doing, you can probably do one of these seven stretches.
• Stretch both palms and all fingers. Even if you have DC in only one finger, it is important to stretch all parts of both hands.
• Dupuytren’s contracture is difficult to treat. It defies standard medical treatment.  No one natural therapy – no matter how good – will change DC.  Do not stretch Dupuytren’s contracture tissue as a solo or stand-alone therapy.  You will get nowhere.  No one gets rid of DC by stretching it away.
• Stretch Dupuytren’s contracture as part of a standard DCI treatment plans for best results.

Stretch Dupuytren’s contracture – 7 ways for safe and effective DC stretches 

The beauty of these stretches is that several do not require any work.  Just set them up, and relax.

In the following Dupuytren’s contracture stretches, we assume the DC finger(s) are straight enough not to be a problem.  However, severe DC finger flexion might prevent you from doing several stretches.  In that case, do your best, but still do them.  Keep the bent finger out of the stretch.   By stretching one or two fingers next to the bent finger, you will help the bent finger indirectly.  Modify the exercise as needed.

1. Praying hands stretch –

Put fingers and palms together as if you are praying.  Gently push the finger pads against each other.   Keep all ten-fingertip pads together, as you move your palms 3-6 inches away from each other. At the same time, raise the elbows up and away from the side of the body.  Spread your fingers 1-2 inches apart.  All ten-finger pads should still be touching, with wrists bent.   You should feel only a very slight and mild pull across palms – no discomfort anywhere.

This is a great Dupuytren’s contracture stretch.  It stretches the fingers, palms and even the forearms that are often tight in so many people with DC.

2. Table top stretch –

Put the DC hand on a table, palm down.  While sitting, you can use your thigh.  Straighten the fingers and flatten the palm, as much as possible. Keep the DC hand relaxed.

Place the fingertips or palm of the good hand on the back of the DC hand.  Simply, one hand is on top of the other.   The weight of the good hand puts light pressure on the DC hand.

3. Knuckles to elbow stretch –

Bend the wrist of the DC hand backwards, by bringing the knuckles up toward the elbow.  Straighten the fingers.  Cup the fingers of the good hand around the DC fingers. Relax the DC hand.  With the good hand, gently push the DC hand toward the elbow.

You should feel very mild pulling in the palm if you are doing it correctly.

4. Sleep on it –

In bed, lie on our back. Before falling asleep put your hands – palm-up or palm-down – just under the outside edge of your thighs.  Experiment to see if palm-up or palm-down does a better job of stretching where you need it. Slide the fingertips a short way under the thigh, not too far.  Only go so far as to apply gentle and slight stretching of the fingers and palms.   The pressure should be so comfortable and mild that you have no trouble falling asleep.

5. Sit on it –

While sitting, put your hands – palm-up or palm-down – just under the outside edge of your thighs.  Slide the fingertips a little just a short way under, not too far.  Only go so far as to apply gentle and slight stretching of the fingers and palms.   Experiment to see if putting the hand palm-up or palm-down does a better job of stretching the DC.

Do this stretch on any kind of chair or surface, but works best on soft padded chairs.

6. Doorbell stretch –

Put a fingertip of the good hand on the middle of the DC palm lump.  Apply a few ounces of downward pressure with the fingertip onto the DC lump, as if you are ringing a doorbell.   Keep the DC palm relaxed and cupped; do not flatten the DC palm or hold it stiff.

Continue applying gentle downward force.  At the same time, gently push outward and around with the fingertip.  Try to move the lump around in a circle.

Do not rub your fingertip around on the surface of the palm lump.  You should see and feel that you are gently moving the palm lump around in a small circle.

7. Side-to-side cord stretch –

Use two fingers of the good hand to hold, lightly but firmly, the middle of the DC cord.  While gently grasping the DC cord at the mid-point, push or nudge it over a little toward the thumb-side of the hand.  Hold it there for 10-15 seconds.  Then push or nudge it in the opposite direction, toward the little finger-side of the hand.  Hold it there for 10-15 seconds.  Continue reversing the side-to-side stretch.

Learn about Peyronie’s disease.

Summary

• Stretch Dupuytren’s contracture gently, for best results.  At no time during or after doing Dupuytren’s contracture stretches should you feel discomfort.  Please, keep it gentle and easy.
• Do all these stretches as often as possible.  Use all the big and little times in a day to help your hands.
• Make these stretches a part of a larger internal and external DCI therapy plan.

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

Please take these Dupuytren’s contracture stretches to your treating doctor to review and get approval before you start doing them.   Dupuytren’s Contracture Institute and Natural Health Education LLC want your doctor to know what you are doing to help yourself.

Information provided above should not be taken as 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.

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