If you have a job where you work with your hands, you need to make sure you’re not overdoing it.
Even light tasks like typing on a keyboard can result in stiffness, pain, and repetitive strain injuries.
Taking frequent short breaks is a great way to protect your hands, wrists, and fingers from getting stiff, sore, or hurt. But you can also benefit from doing brief hand exercises throughout the workday.
Doing these will improve the flexibility in your joints, reduce discomfort, and help you avoid more serious injuries that could set in over time.
Finger Stretches
Beginning with your dominant hand, extend each finger back one at a time with the fingers of your other hand. Once you have done this on both hands, gently pull all of the fingers back together.
Thumb Stretches
Stretch your hands out, then pull your thumbs in toward the palm. Now, stretch them back out again. Next make a fist with each hand. Open your hands slowly, stretching the fingers out to full extension.
Wrist Stretches
Hold your hand out and use your other hand to bend the wrist down. Then, do the same to your other hand.
After that, hold the fingers of one hand with the other hand and gently pull back on them to bend the wrist upward. Then, do the same to your other hand.
Keep Your Hand Muscles Strong, Loose, and Safe
Each of these exercises will only take about 30 seconds to complete, but they could save you a lot of pain.
Give your hands and fingers a break throughout the day. Even if you don’t feel you’re putting strain on them, subjecting them to a small amount of stress over a period of time can eventually add up to a serious injury.
So, start doing these simple hand stretches. You might have to set a reminder at first, but soon it will become a habit. When it does, you’ll be able to get through a workday without feeling stiff or getting sore.