Have you just been vaccinated or vaccinated and do you suffer from a stiff upper arm? We've got your back! With these 6 mild exercises you can counteract that stiffness in your upper arm. Are you reading along?
It is quite normal for your arm to feel stiff after a vaccination or inoculation. This is your body's natural reaction to a needle that is pierced through your skin and to the chemicals that are injected into your body. So it's actually a sign that your body is protecting you from the vaccination; inflammation is a logical response of your immune system to develop a defense mechanism.
The exercises below can help with a stiff feeling for several reasons. First, it gives your circulation a boost, because you move the muscle that has been 'affected'. This will allow you to get the chemicals out of your body and your arm will feel less sore. Second, exercise causes you to produce more endorphins, chemicals that can temporarily affect your pain experience. Finally, exercise also has an anti-inflammatory effect; active muscle contractions caused by light movement can reduce local swelling. Enough reason to give these exercises a chance!
- Extend your arms out to the side at shoulder height with your palms turned forward
– Slowly rotate your arms back in small circles
– Do 5 to 10 reps and then do the same, but forwards
- Extend your arms out to the side at shoulder height with your palms turned forward. Bend your elbows to create a 90-degree angle in your arms.
– Slowly push your arms up towards the ceiling until your arms are straight
– Hold this position for a while and then slowly lower your arms back to a 90 degree angle
– Repeat 5 to 10 times
– Let your arms hang beside your body with your palms turned forward
– Keep your arms straight and move them up from the side to above your head
– Hold this position for a while and then lower it from the side to next to your body
– Repeat 5 to 10 times
– Let your arms hang beside your body with your palms turned towards your body
– Keep your arms straight and slowly bring them up above your head through the front
– Hold this position for a while and then lower it through the front until it is next to your body
– Repeat 5 to 10 times
- Extend your arms out to the side at shoulder height, with your palms turned down
– Hold them straight and bring them forward until your thumbs almost touch
– Hold this pose for a while and then squeeze your shoulder blades together to bring your arms back to the side
– Repeat 5 to 10 times
– Stand a bit away from a wall with your face to the wall. Place your palm against the wall at shoulder height with a bent arm
– Slowly walk or slide your hand up the wall until your arm is fully extended
– Hold this position for a while and slowly move your hand back to shoulder height
– Repeat this 5 to 10 times and switch arms if necessary
