Hand Strengthening Exercises

Written by Brett Harrop

Updated: 11 May 2022

The following hand exercises are designed to improve strength of the muscles of the wrist and hand. You should discuss the suitability of these hand exercises with your physiotherapist prior to beginning them. Generally, they should only be performed provided they do not cause or increase pain.

Begin with the basic hand exercises. Once these are too easy, add the intermediate hand exercises. As your strength improves, the advanced hand exercises can then be added to the intermediate program.

Hand Strengthening – Basic Hand Exercises

To begin with, the following basic hand exercises should be performed approximately 10 times, 3 times daily. As your hand strength improves, the hand exercises can be progressed by gradually increasing the repetitions and strength of contraction provided they do not cause or increase pain.

Tennis Ball Squeeze

Begin this exercise holding a tennis ball (figure 1). Squeeze the tennis ball as hard as possible and comfortable without pain. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 10 times.

Thumb Opposition

Begin this exercise taking your thumb to your index finger (figure 2). Squeeze your thumb and index finger together as hard as possible and comfortable without pain for 5 seconds, then move your thumb onto the next finger. Squeeze your thumb and middle finger together for 5 seconds and so on. Repeat 3 times on each finger.

Finger Adduction

Begin this exercise with your fingers and thumb in the position shown (figure 3). Keeping your fingers straight, squeeze your fingers and thumb together in this position as hard as possible and comfortable without pain. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 10 times.

Hand Strengthening – Intermediate Hand Exercises

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Hand Strengthening – Advanced Hand Exercises

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Become a PhysioAdvisor Member and gain full access to our complete Injury Database. Our experienced physiotherapists are updating PhysioAdvisor’s injury articles to include the most important information to help users take control of their injury and hasten their recovery. Updated sections include detailed information on: Treatment, Intermediate & Advanced Exercises and a step by step Rehabilitation Protocol for each updated injury article – ensuring you have the tools to take control of your injury and save money on expensive physiotherapy consultations.

  Physiotherapy Products for Exercises

To purchase physiotherapy products to assist with hand strengthening, hand exercises or other exercises click on one of the above links or visit the PhysioAdvisor Shop.

  More Exercises

• View Hand Stretches
• View Arm Stretches
• View Arm Strengthening Exercises
• View Upper Body Resistance Band Exercises
• View Core Exercises

Find a Physio for Hand Exercises

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