Baoding balls are thought to come from Baoding in the Heibei province in China. They were originally cast in iron and are sometimes referred to as "iron balls." Mass production of Baoding balls began in 1368 during the Ming Dynasty, according to "QI: The Journal of Traditional Eastern Health & Fitness." Baoding balls are said to work by accessing pressure points in the hands creating better circulation to vital organs. They are said to release blockages, invigorate, prevent, and cure hypertension and various chronic ailments.
Increased Circulation
Chinese medicine believes that energy within each person, called Qi, flows through meridians, which are channels or pathways that the energy moves throughout the body. These meridians feature acupuncture points. The Baoding balls stimulate meridian points in the hands, which Chinese practitioners claim increases circulation and blood flow throughout the body. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine believe that as the blood flows more freely, chronic diseases such as hypertension are prevented.
Carpal Tunnel Management
Rolling Baoding balls in your hands increases circulation, exercises the muscles and helps strengthen the muscles in the fingers and hands. Using Baoding balls can help manage the symptoms of carpal tunnel. A study headed by L.M. Rozmaryn published in the July/September 1998 issue of the "Journal of Hand Therapy" found that hand exercises help manage carpal tunnel syndrome. The study examined 197 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Half the group used nerve and tendon gliding exercises and the other half did not. The study found 71.2 percent of the group that did not exercise underwent surgery as compared with 43 percent of the group that used the exercises.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
Baoding balls exercise the hands by using the fingers to hand to rotate the balls around the inside palms. Hand exercise is an effective treatment for increasing hand strength and function. A study headed by Sofia Brorsson published in the April 2009 issue of the "Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine" evaluated 40 patients, 20 with RA and 20 healthy control patients. The RA patients were given a series of hand exercises using different firmness of putty. The RA group performed these exercises daily for 10 minutes over a 12-week period. The results showed a significant improvement in hand strength and function in the RA patients. They concluded that hand exercise is an effective intervention for patients with RA.
References
- BaodingBalls.com: History and Types of Baoding Balls
- QI Journal: Chinese Culture: Baoding
- Pub Med.gov: Nerve and Tendon Gliding Exercises and the Conservative Management of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- "Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine": A Six-Week Hand Exercise Programme Improves Strength and Hand Function in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
- "Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine": A Six-Week Hand Exercise Programme Improves Strength and Hand Function in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
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