A pulsating jackhammer impacts at some 1,500 blows a minute – ideal for roadwork but not so good for the operator’s hands, wrists, and elbows. The back can also be affected because of the constant jolts to the lumbar spine. Newer, comparatively lightweight jackhammers are designed to lessen harmful vibrations. Since this job is very dependent on a specific piece of equipment that is the cause of the shock waves through the body, there are not a lot of options to change the situation. However, you can perform stretches and strengthening exercises each day for your arms. These exercises can help keep the body anatomically aligned, which may reduce some of the damage that occurs to the hands, wrists, and elbows.