Posts Tagged ‘upper extremities’
wrists, hands, and fingers – oh my!
Good morning! Today we wave “Goodbye!” to our week and “Helloooooo!” to our weekend by focusing on our wrist joints, hands, and fingers!
We want to be sure that we keep our wrists, hands, and fingers healthy, dexterous, agile, and strong (so that we can continue to do all that we want to do)! How do we do this? By dancing them, of course! We want to integrate the whooooole body (including every little knuckle of the fingers) as we move. Keeping our hands and fingers involved (as we dance our legs and core) keeps our nervous system challenged (must coordinate all that is going on), our heart rates up (since all major body parts are moving), and our upper extremities healthy and fit.
Sometimes we incorporate specific hand and finger techniques (e.g., spear finger, balance finger, fist, palm directions, etc.) as we dance in class. These specific techniques from the Nia 52 Moves ensure that we condition our arms, hands, and fingers in a variety of ways. For example, creepy crawlers conditions our hands and fingers for increased mobility… Webbed spaces conditions our hands and fingers for increased flexibility… Claw hand conditions our hands and fingers for increased strength… Catching flies conditions the hands and fingers for increased agility… (to name a few…)
elbows and forearms. yeah baby.
Hello! Today’s focus is on our elbows and forearms…
Elbows
Our elbow joints are the hinge-like joints at the middle of the arm, where the upper arm bones meet the forearm bones. In writing this just now, I am realizing how much I take my elbow joints for granted. I mean, can you imagine what life would be like if you didn’t have elbows? I’m talking super long zombie arms that can’t bend in the middle!?!? What first comes to mind for me is performing tasks like making a sandwich, putting a sweatshirt on, or driving a car would be a little funny. But then I realized… how would I ever actually eat the sandwich?? How would I drink my coffee??? How would I brush my teeth???? Geesh… Our elbows allow us to do so much!
Forearms
Our forearms are pretty cool too. A lot of what we do throughout the day is also possible thanks to the muscles and bones of the forearms. For example… Keeping your upper arm bone close to your ribcage, simply rotate your palm to face up (like you were going to receive a gift in your hand) and then down (like you were going to play the piano). It’s the amazing structure of the forearm that allow this twisting action so that the palms can face different directions. Pretty neat, eh? Imagine starting the ignition of your car, turning a doorknob, or opening a jar of pickles without this incredible spiraling movement!
There are many powerful reasons for focusing on the elbows and forearms. Here are few…
the groovy shoulder girdle
Good morning! For today’s adventures, let’s begin to shift our focus to our upper extremities. Specifically, let’s start by paying attention to three things, our: 1) shoulder blades (scapulae), 2) collarbones (clavicles), and 3) upper arm bones (humerus).
The shoulder blades and collarbones together create an almost ring-like structure that rests between the ribcage and the head.The yoke-like structure, a.k.a the shoulder girdle or pectoral girdle, is what connects our arms to our core.
