Top 3 exercises to improve grip strength
Grip strength is used for a multitude of activities throughout the day including carrying in groceries, using tools like a drill, mowing the lawn with a walking mower, and more fine motor tasks like carrying a cup or opening a can. Grip strength can hinder all of these activities and can make simple tasks much more difficult to complete. This article will teach you 3 simple drills you can do at home with objects you can find there too. The drills are as follows.
- Towel Scrunches: For this drill all you will need is a hand towel and a tabletop. To set the drill up all you will need to do is unfold the towel to be flat and have your hand start at one end of the towel. Lay your hand flat on the towel and scrunch up your fingers bringing the towel with you. Then use your fingers already in the scrunched position and straighten them out, bringing the towel away with them. This will straighten the towel back out. Once done, complete the 9 more times and switch to the other hand once complete.
- Ball Squeezes: This drill you will need a stress reliever ball or something of similar size that has give to it. Hold the ball in your hand and squeeze the ball 10 to 15 times. Once you have completed this, switch to your other hand.
- Wrist Extension & Flexion: This drill you can use a soup can or water bottle to your desired weight. Start off with a lighter weight around 2 pounds and you can work your way up as needed. For wrist extension, hold your elbows at your side with 90 degrees of flexion (like you are holding a platter) and hold your soup can with your palm up facing the ceiling. You will then curl your wrist so the soup can get closer to your inner elbow. Do 10 of these repetitions and then you will flip your hand over so you are holding the can with your palm facing the ground. Complete another 10 repetitions. A note for this drill is that you can do both arms at the same time.
These exercises are something that are easy to complete at home with household objects you have on hand. Once you complete these for a few days you will start to see an improvement in your drip strength. This can help on a daily basis to complete tasks that require endurance in the muscles you exercise. ProTailored Physical Therapy can help give the tools you need that are specific to the symptoms you are experiencing with decreased grip strength. We will cater exercises and manual techniques that will assist in getting your grip strength improved.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of decreased grip strength, ProTailored Physical Therapy can help! Call us at (260) 739-0300 to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward relief.