5 hand exercises to improve flexibility
What's the story
Incorporating some simple hand exercises into your daily routine can do wonders for your overall wellness. They are easy to perform, require minimal time, and can be done by beginners. Regular practice can improve the flexibility, strength, and circulation in hands, especially for those who type or perform repetitive tasks for long hours. Here are some easy hand exercises you can start adding to your daily routine to enhance your wellness.
Stretching
Finger stretching techniques
Finger stretching is a basic exercise that keeps you flexible and reduces stiffness. To do this exercise, stretch your fingers as widely as you can and hold the stretch for a few seconds before releasing. Repeat this a few times during the day to keep your fingers agile and avoid discomfort from long usage.
Strengthening
Grip strengthening exercise
Improving grip strength is important for daily activities, like opening jars or carrying bags. A simple way to improve grip strength is to squeeze a soft ball or stress ball repeatedly. Try to do this exercise in sets of 10 squeezes, with short breaks between them.
Flexibility
Thumb flexibility routine
Thumb flexibility is important for hand dexterity. To improve thumb flexibility, bend your thumb gently across the palm toward the base of the little finger and hold it there for a few seconds before bringing it back to its original position. Repeating this movement a few times will keep your thumb mobile.
Rotation
Wrist rotation exercise
Wrist rotation exercises are especially useful for relieving tension and improving wrist flexibility. To do these rotations, extend an arm forward with the palm facing down. Slowly rotate the wrist clockwise, and then counterclockwise. It is advisable to perform these rotations several times on each wrist every day to stay flexible and reduce discomfort.
Tapping
Finger tapping drill
Finger tapping drills improve coordination between fingers and also fine-tune your motor skills. You can begin by tapping each finger against the thumb in a sequence from index finger to little finger back-and-forth quickly but gently, without straining yourself too much during practice sessions every day.