How Do I Make Sure That I Get the Best Results?

• Follow the exercise program as it is listed in the instruction manuals, handouts and/or videos for each product being used.
  
• Be consistent with your exercises. Perform your exercises at least 2x per day, 3-6 days per week for the initial 6-10 week training period. This will allow for a sufficient amount of extensor strength to be built up before moving on to other exercises.
  
• Make sure you are performing the exercises correctly.
  
  FLEXTEND®:
  A. Start opening the hand and SPREADING THE FINGERS right from the beginning of the exercise, and finish the exercise with the hand pointing towards the floor, FULLY OPEN, with the THUMB AND PINKY SPREAD APART, and the wrist and forearm in a straight line.
  B. Do not hold the hand open at the bottom of the movement for longer than one (1) second.
  C. The contraction and relaxation phases of the exercises need to be performed at the same speed.
  
  FLEXTEND®-AC KIT:
  A. View Exercises In Manual.
  
  FLEXTEND®-TFT KIT:
  A. Flex the finger as far as it will go and then return to the extended position for the required number of repetitions.
  B. Do not hold your finger in the extended position for more than a couple of seconds. Ideally, each repetitions should only take 1-2 seconds to perform.

What if the Exercises Seem too Difficult?

• FLEXTEND®: (See Instruction Manual)
  A. Make sure that you are using the thin black tubing and not the thicker orange tubing.
  B. Loosen the tension of the resistance tubing.
  C. Move the resistance tubing to the lower level of rings (Level-I) located close to the palm-area of the FLEXTEND glove. ( This is a last-resort measure, and #1-2 should be tried first.)
  
• FLEXTEND®-AC KIT:
  A. Use the smaller 3/16 resistance band when performing exercises.
  
• FLEXTEND®-TFT KIT:
  A. Use the larger rubber bands to begin with as their resistance is less.
  B. As you get stronger, begin using the smaller bands.
  C. To maximize resistance, you may use multiple bands at the same time.

What If the Exercise Program Seems too Easy?

• FLEXTEND®: (See Instruction Manual)
  A. Make sure that you are using several thin black bands and/or the thicker orange tubing.
  B. Tighten the tension of the resistance tubing.
  C. Place multiple resistance bands through the upper and lower level of rings, or multiple bands through the upper level of rings. (Try method #1 and #2 first)
  
• FLEXTEND®-AC KIT:
  A. Use the larger 1/4 resistance band when performing exercises.
  
• FLEXTEND®-TFT KIT:
  A. Use the small or medium rubber bands to begin with as their resistance is greater
  B. To maximize resistance, you may use multiple bands at the same time.

What If I'm Not Achieving the Desired Results?

• FLEXTEND®:
  A. The FLEXTEND glove may not be the proper size. A custom glove fit is imperative. A custom fit allows the user to have precise control of the exercise movements, and will allow he/she to achieve results much faster than someone who is using a glove that is too large.
  
  B. Make sure that you are opening the hand all the way. When you are performing the exercises, make sure that you are spreading the fingers all the way apart, especially the thumb and pinky, and that the hand is fully splayed in the open position.
  IMPORTANT: Start spreading the fingers and opening the hand at the beginning of the exercise movement. DO NOT wait to open the hand when you are at the end of the exercise movement because there is too much tension on the resistance tubing; making it more difficult to open the hand.
  
  C. Make sure that you are not hyper-extending the wrist backwards. When performing the exercises, make sure that the wrist stops in the neutral position (straight).
  NOTE: When performing the isolation exercises it is fine to extend the wrist backwards, but do not force it.
  
  D. You may be forming too many sets and repetitions, or not enough. Please refer to the exercise program listed in the Instructional Manual, Handouts or Computer CD.
  
  E. You may have chosen the wrong exercise program. OR you may be suffering from something other than Carpal Tunnel Syndrome CTS) or a Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI).
  
  F. You may be suffering from multiple areas of nerve impingement that cause symptoms that are similar to CTS and RSI's. Such as:
  
  1. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome:This disorder can cause the entire hand to go numb, especially when the arms are elevated out in front of the body. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is caused by impingement of the Brachial Plexus (group of nerves) between the pectoral (chest) muscle and the Clavicle bone. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome can be treated by stretching the tight pectoral muscles, and strengthening the back muscles to ensure good posture.
  2. Cubital Tunnel Syndrome:This particular disorder involves the impingement of the ulnar nerve at the elbow joint. Cubital Tunnel Syndrome affects the medial (inner-side) of the elbow, the pinky-side of the wrist, and the ring and pinky fingers. The symptoms can include a general ache or sharp pain on the medial side of the elbow, and pain and numbness in the ring and pinky fingers.
  3. Guyons Syndrome:This disorder is caused by impingement of the ulnar nerve at the wrist junction as it passes through the Guyons Tunnel. The symptoms can include pain, tingling and numbness of the ring and pinky fingers.
  
  G. You may have a cervical injury: Impingement of the median nerve at C5 through T1 of the cervical spine, and / or impingement of the ulnar nerve at C7 through T1.
  
  H. You may have a disease: You may have an actual disease that is affecting the nerve, and is not associated with a muscle imbalance.
  
  I. You may be suffering from an acute injury. An acute injury is the phase at which the injury has occurred recently, and is inflamed and swollen. Performing exercises when the wrist or elbow is in the acute phase is not recommended because the injury will probably become more inflamed and swollen.
  
  J. You may be suffering from a chronic injury. Chronic injuries are injuries that have existed for quite some time, and are not in an inflamed or swollen state. A chronic injury involving the carpal tunnel can have existed for so long that there is a build-up of scar tissue within and around the carpal tunnel causing impingement of the median nerve. ( The build-up of scar tissue occurs often in patients who have had carpal tunnel surgery, and incorrect rehabilitation afterwards.)
  
  K. You may have had an incorrect Physician diagnosis. Get a second opinion, and a third if you have to. Find out what type of injury you have as soon as you can in order to address it before it becomes worse.
  
  L. You may have diagnosed your own condition. If this is the case, then you must consult your physician in order to get an accurate diagnosis of your condition/injury.
  
  M. You may need to change the exercises you are doing. See Instruction Manual, Handouts or Computer CD.
  
• FLEXTEND®-AC KIT:
  A. Consult with Clinician Services or your own doctor, therapist or training for a specific exercise program.
  
• FLEXTEND®-TFT KIT:
  A. Be sure that you are using this system as outlined in the Written Instruction Manual for the FLEXTEND Training System.
  
  
  Be sure to review the Instructions before using any of the FLEXTEND® Training Systems. If you have any questions or concerns contact BSI's Clinician Services. (See "Contact" Information)