Hand contructure – Dupuytrens contraction

Once I had a client who had Dupuytrens contracture. Here all the hand and the fingers are not able to open up any more, due to extreme fascia shortening.

I worked with heating compressions, massaged with warm medicated Sesame oil, I taught ROM (range of motion) of the wrist and arm and applied some point work to open adhesions.

By letting the hand rest on the massage table the client leaned, while standing, into stretches slowly and applying tension onto the table according to capacity, we increased the range of motion gradually over some weeks…. We did further active/passive/tension/relax exercises increasing mobility. I told to continue these exercises daily and come in weekly. The flexibility increased and later he told me that he cancelled his operation.

I believe in the kind of homework a client can do. The trick is not to overwhelm them. Many of my clients have actually an aversion against movement. Hence, less can be more in this case.