Powerball – For the Fast & Effective Treatment of Chilblains

Chilblains are painful and itchy swelling on the skin that can develop from poor circulation or repeated exposure to cold temperatures. Chilblains usually affect the toes however, it is not uncommon for them to appear on the fingers, ears or other parts of the body. The swelling caused by chilblains can result in serious discomfort and pain for the affected person and can even affect someone’s ability to work or carry out daily tasks. Powerball is a unique handheld gyroscope that is highly-effective at combating chilblains in the fingers and hands. 

Spin Powerball for just a couple of minutes each day and notice the difference for yourself: Powerball massively boosts circulation to warm up the hands and effectively break down chilblains. Get back to a healthy and pain-free lifestyle today with Powerball.

What are chilblains?

Chilblains (also known as pernio) occur when the small blood vessels in the skin swell due to lack of circulation or repeated exposure to cold temperatures. This swelling can appear on your skin as a red or purple inflammation and can become itchy and/or painful. While chilblains more commonly affect the toes and fingers, on rare occasions they can also be found on the ears or other parts of the body. Chilblains usually fade away themselves over time however, they can be a seasonal reoccurrence for some people. Chilblains can be an uncomfortable and painful nuisance that in some cases may become so severe as to affect everyday life. If a severe case of chilblains is left untreated, the affected areas of skin may eventually split, leaving you open to possible infection. Therefore, it is recommended that you always seek medical advice if you are suffering from a serious form of the condition.

Symptoms

The symptoms of chilblains include:

• Swollen skin
• Small itchy areas on your hands or feet
• Changes in skin colour (often red or purple skin)
• Pain when moving fingers or toes
• Reduced flexibility or stiffness in fingers and toes
• Burning sensation on skin
• Possible blisters in affected areas

What causes chilblains?

Chilblains are usually a common complaint during winter, as they are brought on by repeated exposure to cold and damp conditions. When the skin is exposed to cool temperatures, the small blood vessels (arterioles) in the fingers and toes can contract. Once the skin is warmed up again, these same blood vessels suddenly expand, causing blood to rush in and become congested in the vessel. This congestion then causes the blood vessel to swell and later become inflamed.

While many people experience cold feet and hands in winter, most will not suffer from chilblains. The reasons why some people develop chilblains and others do not is still relatively unknown. It is thought to be related to an unusual reaction that some people have to cold temperatures and the rewarming of the blood. Older people are particularly susceptible to chilblains, as they are more likely to have reduced circulation. People suffering from anaemia and outdoor workers are also more vulnerable to the condition.

Another stimulus that may cause chilblains to develop is poor circulation in the hands and feet. Standing or sitting for extended periods of time in cool or damp temperatures will reduce the amount of blood flowing around your body. Once you begin moving again however, circulation will suddenly increase, pushing blood flow to areas like your hands and feet and causing the blood vessels to swell.

A prime example of this is daily computer use. Using a computer mouse requires little to no movement of the hand and fingers. Sitting at a computer for hours at a time means your body is in a static position and circulation levels are low, especially in your fingers which are fixed almost motionless around the computer mouse. The sudden boost in circulation that occurs when you stand up from your computer is enough to massively increase blood flow to your hand and fingers and you risk the blood vessels becoming congested. For this reason, chilblains affect a large number of office workers or those who spend long periods of time at a computer.

Treating Chilblains

The best way to ease the symptoms of chilblains is to avoid or reduce your exposure to cold or damp conditions. If you are subject to the cold however, it is advisable to warm up your hands and feet gradually. Resist applying direct heat to the affected area, as that will most likely cause the skin to warm up too quickly and you risk making your symptoms worse. Try to steadily warm up your hands and feet by placing them under a blanket, for example.

Chilblains treatment: Powerball for healthy hands & fingers

Powerball is a world-class rehabilitation device that is highly-effective for the treatment of chilblains in the hands and fingers. The primary causes of chilblains are repeated exposure to cold temperatures and with poor circulation. Spinning Powerball combats both of these issues by massively increasing circulation and keeping the hands and fingers warm.

As you spin Powerball, it generates a unique form of isometric resistance. And the faster you spin Powerball, the more isometric resistance it generates. This resistance pushes and fights against your efforts to spin Powerball and in doing so, causes circulation to increase massively along the entire length of your arm, from fingertip to shoulder. Blood is pushed to areas with low levels of circulation, such as your hands and fingers, where it acts fast to warm up the limbs and prevent chilblains from occurring.

The reason why Powerball is so effective in the treatment of chilblains is the fact that it allows you to control the pace at which you increase your circulation. Spinning Powerball at high speeds is enough to significantly warm the hand and fingers. However, since chilblains are caused by too much blood flowing into the blood vessels at once, it is important to spin Powerball at slow speeds first, before gradually building to higher revolutions.

Think of it like this: you’ve come inside from the cold or maybe you didn’t notice the time pass as you were working on your computer. Either way, your hands and fingers are now cold due to lack of circulation and you can feel discomfort, itchiness or pain building as a result of chilblains.

That’s when you pick up your Powerball. Start by spinning Powerball at slow and gentle speeds. Even at low resistance, spinning Powerball will steadily increase circulation to your hands and fingers, relieving any pain and discomfort caused by chilblains. And as your symptoms begin to fade, you can gradually increase your spin speed until you feel your hands are sufficiently warmed up again.

Regular spin sessions with Powerball are a good idea for anyone suffering from chilblains. Keep Powerball at your desk, in the car or on the coffee table at home for quick and effective warm up spins that will boost circulation during periods of inactivity. Using Powerball at regular intervals throughout the day will not only relieve pain and stiffness caused by chilblains, but it will prevent them from worsening by continually keeping your hands and fingers warm.

Click on the tabs below to learn more about the benefits of Powerball:

Non-impact rehabilitation

Whether you’ve never had chilblains before and just want to keep your hands warm this cold season or you’re suffering from the condition on a daily basis, Powerball is there for you. Even long-term sufferers will notice the difference Powerball makes to chilblains almost immediately. Best of all, Powerball’s resistance is 100% non-impact, meaning it does not place any additional strain or pressure on sore hands and fingers. Spinning Powerball at slow speeds requires very little grip strength, so if you are suffering from a severe case of chilblains that makes moving your fingers painful, you will still be able to spin Powerball without any issues. Starting Powerball is also easy to do and requires little effort. Our Autostart models need simply be rolled across a hard surface, such as a table to get them started. (See here to watch our video on how to start Autostart Powerball.)

 

Less stiffness, more flexibility

Exercising with Powerball promotes the circulation of blood through congested and swollen blood vessels. Spinning Powerball at slow speeds gently unblocks these congested blood vessels and gets the blood flowing naturally again. In doing so, Powerball reduces any stiffness caused by swollen or inflamed blood vessels. Not just that – you can also benefit from increased flexibility and range of motion in the fingers simply by exercising with Powerball. Pick up a Powerball today and experience the incredible difference for yourself – you won’t be disappointed.

Effective chilblains prevention with Powerball

Spinning Powerball on a regular basis not only alleviates the symptoms of chilblains, but it also actively prevents the condition from taking hold in the first place. Use Powerball for as little as 5 minutes each day to maintain circulation and upper-body health. Even long-term sufferers of chilblains can prevent the condition from returning during colder months. All it takes are regular spin sessions with Powerball to boost circulation levels and keep chilblains at bay.

Other methods of chilblains treatment

Layers – Dress in layers of loose, warm clothing. Always keep your hands and feet sufficiently warm by wearing gloves and water-resistant footwear. Cover any exposed skin when going outside in cold weather to keep yourself warm and dry.

Warm indoor temperatures – Try to keep all indoor areas warm and dry, such as your home or office. Working for long periods of time in a cool or damp room can only worsen your chilblains.

Lotion – Chilblains will go away naturally over time, however it may be beneficial to use lotions to soothe any itchiness while they are present. Over the counter lotions and creams can accelerate the healing process and soothe discomfort. Your doctor or pharmacist may recommend suitable products to help ease the condition.

If you’ve encountered chilblains before, you’ll likely recognise them on your own if they return. If you’ve never had them before however, it is recommended that you speak to your doctor to ensure that there is no underlying issue that may have caused the chilblains. Always contact your doctor if the symptoms remain for more than three weeks, you are suffering from acute pain as a result of the condition or the condition continues into the warm season.

What does the physical therapist recommend?

Colm Murphy is an IAPT physical therapist, lecturer in anatomy, and professional tennis coach. Colm is an expert in rehabilitation, musculoskeletal anatomy and analysis and works closely with elite level athletes. Colm designed our rehabilitation & strengthening programmes, which you can find on our videos page.

VIDEOS

Powerball Gyroscope – How it Works

With over 4 million sold worldwide, Powerball is the world’s number one gyroscope. Inside the shell of a Powerball is a rotor (green wheel), which spins on an axis. As the rotor spins, it creates resistance, which pushes against your efforts to spin Powerball. The faster you spin Powerball, the more resistance it creates and the harder it becomes to spin. This resistance is non-impact and 100% isometric, making Powerball the perfect device for rehabilitation and strengthening.

Whether you’re using Powerball to rehabilitate chilblains or prevent them from occurring in the future, we have the perfect Powerball for you. Click on the button below to check out our online store and see the wide range of models available.

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