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Varigrip Hand Excerciser (Read 4502 times)

battery

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Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 15, 2016, 11:00:25 am
Anyone used one of these and know how tough/easy they are? There's lots of people asking about pundage in reviews but no one seems to be able to give an answer.

http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Planet-Waves-Varigrip-Adjustable-Hand-Exerciser/9ZA?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+GENERIC&adgroup=GENERIC&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=12934d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=127206560959&gclid=CP2P65niqc0CFVG6GwodLfkH6g

I've had a buggered wrist for months now and it's not getting any better so finally went to see a physio and they suggested something like this that I  can change the resistance on. I found loads online that are one resistance but this is the only one I've found that you can change the resistance on.

Thanks folks.

mctrials23

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#1 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 15, 2016, 11:16:00 am
For rehab it might have some value but for finger strength, no.

What reason did your physio give for using something like this to help your wrist. I'm not an expert but it doesn't seem like this would hit the wrist much.

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#2 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 15, 2016, 02:26:40 pm
I've found those Metolious rubber ball with elastic band things running through the middle good for gentle hand rehab...

battery

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#3 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 15, 2016, 05:05:03 pm
The pain in my wrist is the legacy of an old injury so it's no longer inflamed but it is damaged and not operating properly. As the cells renew they renew in the same damaged state. By aggravating it a little, but not too much, the theory is that the cells will renew in a stronger / better state. But, it is a fine line between working it a little and overworking it which will cause more damage, hence why a variable resistance device was recommended if possible.

When assessing the injury it was trying to pull on my back two fingers which made it hurt.

So, definitely not about strength. She did say putty might help if there was nothing suitable.


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#4 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 15, 2016, 07:03:57 pm
I have one of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/282057644293?lpid=122&chn=ps&googleloc=1007064&poi=&campaignid=207297426&device=c&adgroupid=13585920426&rlsatarget=pla-131843279826&adtype=pla&crdt=0

Maybe of some value for rehab but they're very easy compared to those sort of 'v' shaped grip trainers with the coiled spring.

mctrials23

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#5 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 16, 2016, 12:42:39 pm
The pain in my wrist is the legacy of an old injury so it's no longer inflamed but it is damaged and not operating properly. As the cells renew they renew in the same damaged state. By aggravating it a little, but not too much, the theory is that the cells will renew in a stronger / better state. But, it is a fine line between working it a little and overworking it which will cause more damage, hence why a variable resistance device was recommended if possible.

When assessing the injury it was trying to pull on my back two fingers which made it hurt.


What in your wrist is injured, is it bone or tendons?

Sometimes you need to cause slight pain to stimulate healing in the correct manner as well. Have you got a fingerboard? Cant you just use that or a door frame to "load" the finger until you feel a mild discomfort? I always found those finger trainers hurt my fingers due to the angle it put my fingers in when the spring was depressed.


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#6 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 29, 2016, 09:10:37 pm
So, been to see the physio who is the hand specialist today and came out feeling pretty pissed off!

It's definitely something to do with tendons and the good news is he isolated the injury to being in part of my wrist closest to my hand. He's referred me to my GP so that they can refer me for an ultrasound (what a faff!) to assist with diagnosis but he talked about possible damage to the sheath that holds the tendons together or fluid on the tendons.

Then he hit with the freaky stuff, firstly talking about the possibility of steroid injections which I do not like the sound of (my brother and Dad have had them on their shoulder and back and they seem to be just a temporary fix) and then he suggested that I might need to 'look for a new hobby' i.e. give up climbing.

Anyone any suggestions or even just an encouraging word?!

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#7 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 29, 2016, 09:14:29 pm
then he suggested that I might need to 'look for a new hobby' i.e. give up climbing.

someone said the same thing to Jerry - fortunately he didn't listen

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#8 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 29, 2016, 09:27:32 pm
Helpful, thanks!

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battery

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#9 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 30, 2016, 07:08:55 am
Realise that looks as if I'm being sarcy, I wasn't!

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#10 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 30, 2016, 07:19:15 am
the steroid injection can be just enough to get your body out of a chronic situation, just make sure you don't over do it when the steroids kick in, give it time to heal.
a friend of mine had injections in both wrists, and ended up getting an operation in one (neither injection nor operation guarantee success), and was climbing pain free shortly after.

i have a "gripmaster" and i like them for warming up outside (i'll use it while driving and walking to the boulders), but they place unnatural stress on the wrist, so it could make the wrist worse; try before you buy

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#11 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 30, 2016, 08:04:54 am
Embrace all the further consultation offered! You're in a privileged position if they're willing to seek further opinion. It may seem like a bit of a faff, but surely it's worth it. Depends how much you like knitting.

It took me seven years to find a physio who understood what was wrong with my ankle, but the hardest part was getting re-referred, and I'm really grateful for the input of everyone I saw.

Hopefully this will be encouraging..

What you're describing sounds very similar to what I was suffering from about 20 years ago. I'd get a shooting pain in my wrist, every time I held an edge/crimp. It was described as a problem with inflammation of the sheath etc. Your problem may be worse, but I paid for laser treatment - to help with breakdown of scar tissue. (£25 a pop through the Sports Injuries clinic, as it was, at the Northern General in Sheffield).

Two treatments.

Gone  :2thumbsup:

I'd say, don't fight your injuries. Try to be patient with them, if you can. It's amazing what you can work around, and that's one thing I wish I'd known earlier.

Good luck with it.

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#12 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 30, 2016, 02:12:20 pm
Cheers guys. I've been climbing on it for around a year with tape and managed to equal my hardest grade (having had a child recently) the impetus to get it checked came when I found I was getting trouble with it / becoming very cautious with it in day to day life.

Seriously messed my ankle up a few years ago and that took a long time to get properly diagnosed and treatment included going privately for an MRI and treatment but it was worth it.

Cheers for the help guys, I've lived with it for this long so can certainly live with it for a wee while longer whilst I wait for referrals and scans.

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#13 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 30, 2016, 03:04:31 pm
he isolated the injury to being in part of my wrist closest to my hand.

Just seen the mention of baby and this..

Both my partner and I suffered wrist pain from carrying our first in the wrong way (turning hand inwards and supporting him under them bum, and I've heard of a few folk doing similar.

Worth considering?

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#14 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 30, 2016, 03:28:53 pm
he isolated the injury to being in part of my wrist closest to my hand.

Just seen the mention of baby and this..

Both my partner and I suffered wrist pain from carrying our first in the wrong way (turning hand inwards and supporting him under them bum, and I've heard of a few folk doing similar.

Worth considering?
Agree with Chris. Same for the Mrs and me.
Lots of shoulder opening exercises/ general mobility to compensate for increased time spent "balling up" helped loads

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#15 Re: Varigrip Hand Excerciser
June 30, 2016, 04:53:51 pm
Hmm, interesting, I do carry him on that side...

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