How do I massage the hand of someone suffering from Dupuytren’s disease?
First, let’s do a quick overview of what Dupuytren’s does to the hand so we can massage it correctly.
Dupuytren’s disease causes a thickening of the plantar aponeurosis (fascia on palm of hand) causing pain for some, and loss of range of motion of fingers “for most” at end-stage.
This disease can also effect the palmaris longus muscle at insertion, making swinging a golf club almost impossible.
As the fascia thickens it can grab tendons of the hand flexor muscles causing them to stay in contraction. This stage of this condition is called “Dupuytren’s Contracture”!
In order for a hand massage to have its greatest benefit to the patient, we would want to come it at the earliest stage of the disease.
Why?
Because, once it progresses into Dupuytren’s Contracture, massage will have little benefit, and surgery becomes the most likely way for relief.
In the video below I give a tip on how to massage Dupuytren’s.