I'm experiencing ongoing wrist pain / tendonitis and it's affecting my pilates workouts (have been learning and practicing Pilates 8 yrs - intermediate/advanced). I've been modifying wrist-intensive exercises on various apparatus but feel these modifications to compensate for wrist pain are preventing me from progressing to more advanced exercises. I have sandbag tool - not sure if I'm getting the most benefit from how I'm using it - any suggestions? And, any advice on increasing flexibility in wrists? Thanks!

See a doctor! Causes of wrist pain are numerous and you while you mention you have tendonitis, I don’t know if that is self-diagnosed or not. Have a professional look at it.

In the past, my clients have had success with chiropractors who are skilled in periphery limb adjustments. Athletes certainly saw great benefits too and I did as well with my feet and ankles.

Most common strengthening exercises learned, in the Pilates-arena anyhow, are in supination and pronation of the forearm.  However, working the wrists in all planes and axis with slight resistance and also stretching is often needed. This may be your case.

Google "wrist exercises" and you will find a plethora of information. I found the University of Michigan and the Mayo Clinic sites quite informative.

As far as executing Pilates exercises, watch for: equal weight distribution on the hands, lifting up and out through the center of the hands and up through bones of the arms, caution with loaded wrist extension on the harder exercises like Snake and Twist. These latter exercises may cause a lot of discomfort and pain if done incorrectly. One must lift the rib cage out of pelvis on weight bearing exercises to help unload the shoulders and arms always.

Good luck and do let us know how things work out.

You don't really give us enough information here! Are you sure it's tendonitis and not some other wrist complaint such as carpal tunnel syndrome, or even arthritis? Have you had a professional diagnosis? The wrist can be one of the main sties of osteoporosis in both men and women and you want to rule out anything serious - and know exactly what you are dealing with. De Quervain's Tendonitis creates pain on the radial (thumb) side of the wrist from pressure and swelling over the 2 tendons that move the thumb. It is important to properly align your hands keeping the thumbs with the fingers in exercises such as Long Stretch so that you are not pressing into the affected area, lift out of the wrists while keeping the aligned, lift long through the arms, wrapping into your scapula / rib connection, and providing a lot of powerhouse support to keep the weight off of the upper extremities as much as possible. You might try working with a product such as Gripitz for weight bearing exercises on the Mat. Use a counter stretch after weight bearing exercises- place hand over hand and turn palms away from face, and also icing after your workouts. Please see a medical professional, there is a lot that can be done for chronic tendonitis, but first make sure that is what you are dealing with.