When should a participant stop an exercise due to arm, wrist, or hand pain?

A participant should stop an exercise if the pain increases during the exercise. This approach is essential because an increase in pain can indicate that the activity is exacerbating an existing condition or causing potential injury. Listening to the body is crucial, especially for individuals with arthritis or similar conditions, as they may already have heightened sensitivity in their joints.

Stopping when pain increases allows for better management of their symptoms, helping prevent further damage and ensuring that they can continue participating in exercises safely in the future. By recognizing and responding to their body’s signals, participants can adapt their activities to suit their comfort levels while still engaging in beneficial physical activity.

It’s important for participants to distinguish between normal muscle fatigue or mild discomfort, which may be part of the exercise, and sharper or increasing pain, which is a sign that they need to reassess their activity.