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DC and stretching
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06/06/2016 14:22
jtampa 
06/06/2016 14:22
jtampa 
DC and stretching

I believe I developed DC from playing golf. Its only developed on my left hand.

I have a nodule under ring finger, and a smaller one closer to my middle finger.

So my pinky finger and and ring finger were feeling really tight and I thought
they were callouses from repetitively swinging a golf club. I was practicing often,
easily 4 times a week.


I have been stretching my fingers every day and also massaging(with some force) the nodules.
Since doing this the tightness has gone away.

This seems like it really helps a lot, and I almost feel like the nodules are shrinking.

At this point, I can fully bend the fingers w/o an problems and have full range of motion.

I was concerned because other people have said the stretching is counter productive.
I don't believe this is the case for me.

I feel visually it seems that the nodules are smaller, but I am now careful to
always wear a glove on my left hand when I play golf. So this may be helping.
I was not wearing a glove at times in the past, and now realize this probably was a big contributing
factor.

So has anyone had a good experience with stretching. I feel like it really works, and have no problem
using my fingers.

My stretching is also probably aggressive, and yes I can definately feel a little discomfort during the stretch.
Afterwards though it feels great.

Anyone have thoughts on this?

06/06/2016 16:10
newman 
06/06/2016 16:10
newman 

Re: DC and stretching

Hi aggressive stretching is not recommended by medical practitioners ,these days and can be counter productive. For decades I was advised to use force ,whilst placing my hand in a flat surface, a so called method to slow contraction. It did not work for me , later having had 15 odd surgeries including 4 grafts. I had NA in Australia at Easter 2015 on both index fingers. During a meeting with a younger hand therapist ,I was advised to carry out some easy exercise.
Using only the strength of the muscles in your hand ,outstretch the hand creating as much spacing in the web area of each finger as you can.Hold for a short period and slowly commence to create a fist ,intern bending each joint in the fingers. Finishing up making a solid closed fist and hold for a short period of time .Reverse the procedure and relax. Flex the fingers like playing the piano in fast motion. Do the exercise at least 3 times.
I carry out this exercise in the morning after wearing a Night Splint. Finally I still have full use and strength of my hands and fingers. Using gloves is a good idea. I wear gloves for all manual work . Regards.

Edited 06/06/16 19:14

06/06/2016 16:24
econn 
06/06/2016 16:24
econn 
Re: DC and stretching

I tried it for years and it didn't work for me, it only resulted in a sore hand and didn't slow the contracture process at all. Since I had a Xiaflex procedure 2 years ago, I do try to hyperextend my hand several times a day, if for no other reason than to check and make sure it's not contracting again.

06/09/2016 22:49
moondanc 
06/09/2016 22:49
moondanc 
Re: DC and stretching

jtampa:
I believe I developed DC from playing golf. Its only developed on my left hand.


What happened to me and what I've read about others that if you have the gene or whatever it is that causes DC you will get it sooner or later. Some folks get it early. Others, who were going to get it at some time, will be afflicted earlier in their life because of some sort of trauma to their hand--perhaps like golf in your case? I got DC in my palm when I was in my late forties after using a chisel to remove tile for a couple days. It was stable until my early 60s when it started to progress to one finger only. I now have it in all my digits.

I think you are wise to try to protect your hand and monitor it closely and don't do any extreme stretching. you might also want to look into RT.

06/10/2016 20:09
Mckenzie72 
06/10/2016 20:09
Mckenzie72 
Re: DC and stretching

If you are right handed and you have DC in your left hand golf will impact it. I started putting a gel pad in my glove over the nodules about a month ago and my hand is not sore after I play. I cut up a specialized mountain biking glove. Works great. Protect that spot or it will get worse. Go get RT while you can.

06/20/2016 16:07
bstenman 
06/20/2016 16:07
bstenman 
Re: DC and stretching

Any physical activity that requires gripping something is going to aggravate a hand with Dupuytrens. I had to give up wedding photography as I could not continue to grip a camera for 8-10 hours without problems. When bicycling I avoid tightly gripping the handlebar. I no longer do painting with brush or roller for the same reasons - so there are some positive aspects to having Dupuytrens in this respect.

I also switched as a left handed person to doing archery and tennis as a right handed person as my right hand is much less affected by the Dupuytrens. Not ideal but it has allowed me to continue with those activities.

I would recommend trying to ice your hand for 20 minutes when you get off the golf course and with minimal delay. You may find you need to stop after 9 holes of play and not try to complete the course.

Stretching is believed to be beneficial and a probable reason why those suffering from Ledderhose with their feet do not have as much of a problem with contracture as they are stretching their feet whenever they walk. There are medical appliances that can be used to stretch the hand while you sleep which might be helpful. I prefer to do the stretching of my primary hand by simply sitting on it and using a sofa cushion which forces the hand backwards a little bit and I can do that for a period of time.

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