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Exercises to Aid Hand Mobility

If you suffer from arthritis or have recently had surgery on your hand, you may find that you have reduced hand mobility. Physical therapists at the Mayo Clinic and Web MD have created a series of exercises that can help improve your ability to use your hands comfortably and precisely. As you complete the exercises, go at your own pace. If an exercise causes pain, do it as best you can or move on to another.

  1. Finger Bend

    • Relax your right hand. Straighten your fingers and place them close together. Bend the top and middle joints of your fingers while keeping your wrist and knuckles straight. Straighten your fingers slowly to return to the starting position. Repeat this exercise for as many repetitions as you are comfortable with, and then switch to the other hand.

    Fist Exercise

    • Begin with the fingers of your right hand straight but spread apart. Bring your fingers together into a loose fist. Wrap your thumb around the outside of the fist. Avoid squeezing too tightly. Spread your fingers out into the starting position. Repeat the exercise with the other hand.

    Palm Stretch

    • Relax your right hand. Spread your fingers outward as wide apart as is comfortable. Hold the position for one count and then relax your fingers and bring them back together while keeping them straight. Open your fingers again. Repeat the exercise with your left hand.

    Fingertip Touch

    • Straighten the fingers and thumb of your right hand. Bend your thumb and stretch it across your palm until you touch the pad of your palm below your pinky finger. If you can't make it this far, stretch as far as you can. Return to the starting position. For a variation, touch your thumb to the tip of each finger so that it forms an O. Repeat with your other hand.

    Joint Bend

    • This exercise helps improve mobility of individual joints within the fingers. With your right hand in a relaxed position, use your left hand to gently bend each finger downward from the joint. Begin by pressing down gently on the joint closest to your palm so that it bends. Repeat the exercise again, this time bending the middle joint of the finger. Repeat once more, bending the tip of each finger. Repeat the exercises with your left hand.

    Finger Spread and Fist

    • This exercise combines two previous exercises: the palm stretch and the loose fist exercise. Begin with the fingers of your right hand straight. Spread your fingers as far apart as you can. Bring your fingers together again, forming them into a fist. Hold this position for five seconds. Repeat with your left hand.

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