TAKING HOLD OF THE HANDS

The fact that we human beings can use our hands to
grasp, clutch, stroke, and mold has played a huge
part in our successful evolution and survival. A
number of psychologists have pointed out that there
is a definite link between hand dexterity and greater
intellect.
Our hands are highly sensitive and are intricate
in their constitution. Each contains 27 small bones
and thousands of nerve endings which relay
messages to and from the brain. In fact, the part of
the brain allotted to receiving and imparting
messages from and to the thumbs and fingers is
proportionately one of its largest areas. Movement
happens in the fingers through the action of muscles
in the forearm which are attached to the finger
bones by long tendons running through the back of
the hand - so when you want to massage the hand
and help to reduce stiffness, remember to include
the forearm in your strokes.
If your partner is involved in work that requires
repetitive hand, wrist, and arm movement, such as
using a keyboard, a tool, a wheel, or a musical
instrument, a considerable amount of tension could
be building up in the hand and arm. This can also
create an underlying level of psychological stress.