MDF Magazine Newsletter Issue 59 August 2019

Sandra’s thoughts on…
Hands
By Sandra Bredell (MSW)
The human hand is one of the most complicated parts
of the body. Consider the following facts (Eaton, no
date): The hand consists of more or less 29 bones,
123 ligaments, 34 muscles which give movement to the
fingers and thumb (17 in the palm of the hand and 18
in the forearm), 48 nerves (3 major nerves, 24 named
sensory branches and 21 named muscular branches)
and 30 named arteries. The thumb alone has 9
individual muscles controlled by 3 major hand nerves
and its movement is quite complex. On top of this,
the finger strength is often underestimated if you bear
in mind that rock climbers often support their entire
weight by a few fingertips. One does not realize these
astonishing facts about our hands when we use them.
Furthermore, fingers are not perfectly straight either.
Only the finger bones on the back side of the hand is
straight but curved on the palm side. The skin on the
palm side of the hand and fingers has no hair and no
ability to tan yet it is tough, durable and very sensitive.
The article “How do hands work?” (2010) tells us that
we can use our hands in a power grip, precision grip
and to touch. The power grip can be described as
the grip we use to carry a heavy bag or hold onto a
handle, and the precision grip refers to the grip we use
to write and draw. But just as important as these two
different grips is the ability to use them to touch. There are
approximately 17 000 touch receptors and nerve
endings in the palm of the hand. It is then no surprise
to me that we associate touch with the hand. Fingertips
are especially sensitive to touch.
A hand is also linked to giving and support and is used
to shake hands in friendship and closing a deal in
the business world. Different symbolic meanings are
associated with the hand.
Apparently the fingers on one hand are flexed up
to 27 million times in a lifetime. Our hands are used
to communicate and receive information from the
environment. This made me think of a story that I
read a while ago, “The importance of hands” (author
unknown), which I would like to share with you.
An old man, probably some ninety plus years, sat
feebly on the park bench. He didn’t move, just sat
with his head down staring at his hands.
When I sat down beside him he didn’t acknowledge
my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if he
was okay. Finally, not really wanting to disturb him,
but wanting to check on him at the same time, I asked
him if he was okay.
He raised his head and looked at me and smiled. Yes,
I’m fine, thank you for asking, he said in a clear strong
voice.
I didn’t mean to disturb you, sir, but you were just sitting
here staring at your hands and I wanted to make
sure you were ok, I explained to him.
Have you ever looked at your hands he asked? I
mean really looked at your hands.
I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them.
I turned them over, palms up and then palms down.
No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as
I tried to figure out the point he was making.
Then he smiled and related this story:
Stop and think for a moment about the hands you
have, how they have served you well throughout your
years. These hands, though wrinkled, shriveled and
34