Wrist Wand

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In 2001, I was the information technology supervisor for a city police department. In that position, I was in charge of telephones, radios, and computers, but my main job was the implementation and project management of a dispatch and records database program. Therefore, I worked very close to dispatchers and records people who used that program to so their daily jobs. There was another supervisor in charge of those personnel. My office was next to his. He also had a project. He was the project manager of a new dispatch center. That required me to work closely with him.

One of his responsibilities was the ergonomics of dispatch center. He had to not only order chairs and furniture but had to ensure that furniture would last throughout it’s depreciation period as well as ensuring safety and comfort. Dispatchers routinely worked 12 hour shifts and would often work overtime past those hours.

Two injuries often occurring in dispatchers is back problems and repetitive motion injuries (carpel tunnel.)

The chairs and work stations adjusted in everyway possible. There were foot rests and back cushions. If an employee can stay healthy, that employee will not miss work, will not complain, and will not get work related injuries.

Exercise was encouraged and the city provided for all it’s employees a gym membership.

Repetitive Motion is a whole science in itself. Anyone working long hours on a computer was highly encouraged to exercise. One item in particular was issued, a “Wrist Wand.”

The “Wrist Wand” is a simple device. It’s a 1” dowell approximately 10” long. It has cushioned grips on the ends resembling the soft grips of a racing bicycle. There was a video each employee had to watch and sign that he/she had watched it in order to be issued a device.

The video showed a simple exercise and recommended that this exercise by done hourly throughout the work day with a single repetition of ten.

I always thought it ironic and strange that to combat repetitive motion injuries, a repetitive exercise would be prescribed.

All dispatchers and records personnel were issued one. I, as a computer systems supervisor was also issued the device. Like most everyone else, I watched the short video, signed the paperwork, took possession of the device, then threw it in my desk never to be seen again.

As I promoted and transferred, that device was moved from desk to desk and ended up in my wall locker. When I retired, the locker was cleaned out with me throwing the contents, including the “Wrist Wand” in a box and then transferred to attic storage at my home.

After I retired, I bought a foreclosed fixer upper custom home. The home is magnificent but my wife and I decided there needed to be some upgrades. Most of the upgrades I did by myself including laying approximately 2000 square feet of tile.

I had to remove the old flooring and prep the floor for the new tile. The new tile had to be set, then grouted. The grouting was a rigorous task and consisted of pressing the grout into position with a rubber trowel, then removing excess grout, after which a sponge cleaning was done. This left a chalky haze on the tile, and a hand polishing followed. The three months I worked on the installation of this tile caused repetitive motion injuries to both my hands and wrists.

I thought since I was no longer doing tile work, the injuries would heal. A year later, I still hurt. Every time I went to do something that required grip, it killed me. I considered that I would have to make that dreaded doctors appointment and get myself fixed. That’s when I remembered the “Wrist Wand.”

I went on the interenet and found the website and watched the video again. At first I couldn’t even do the full exercise. You start with the wand in front of you in your hands, palms up. The you bring it to your mid section palms to your chest, turning your hands downward and straightening out your arms as they go down towards your waist, palms once again out. Then keeping your arms straight, you lift your hands over your head as far up as they’ll go. It stretches your wrists and shoulders. Watch this video to get the idea of what I’m talking about. The manufacturer http://www.wristwand.com/ removed his video because people found out you can make your own. What was happening though was that without the soft grips it puts a lot of pressure on the thumbs and people were complaining about bruises.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndSmIR3evn0

I couldn’t even keep my grip as I pushed down to the waist, let alone lift up in the air above my head. I didn’t do this every hour. I did it once a day in the morning for ten half reps. After about a month, I could do a full half rep and another month a full rep for ten reps. A year later, I do 30 full reps every morning and my pain is gone. I could do more but this is enough to keep me well. I feel fantastic. It really is a magic “wrist wand.”



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