Posted on May 26, 2008 in Latest News
“Studies have shown that strengthening the muscles around the joints leads to overall improved function and better quality of life,” says Heather Williams, DPT, a physical therapist in the Hospital for Special Surgery’s Joint Mobility Center. “Patients can be afraid to exercise those joints because of pain, but they really benefit from strengthening exercises.”
Hand Exercises
- Begin exercising your hands by keeping them relaxed. Start with your fingers straight and close together. Bend the middle and end joints of your fingers. Keep your knuckles and wrists straight. Return your hand to the initial position using slow and smooth movements. Repeat with your other hand. If you can, perform this movement cycle several times on each hand.
- Holding your wrist straight, form the letter “O” by gently touching your thumb to the tip of each finger. After each “O” straighten and spread your fingers. Use the other hand to aid if needed.
- Fill an empty box with small items such as screws, nuts and bolts. Reach in and, , pick the screws and bolts out of one box handful by handful, place them in your other hand, and place in a second box.
- To strengthen and make flexible your wrist, rest your forearm on a table with your hand over the edge. Keep all fingers well-relaxed and gently bend your wrist up and down. To strengthen the small muscles of the hand, slide your arm back till the fingers hang over with your knuckles at the table edge. Keeping your fingers straight and together and your palm flat, move your fingers up and down.
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