Many people who work out, remember to stretch and work out their whole bodies but forget about their hands. Our hands do a lot of work for us, day in and day out, and it is important that they are stretched and exercised as well. Here are some benefits to remembering to stretch and work out our hands:

• Increased hand strength
• Improved forearm flexibility and strength
• Decreased chances of repetitive stress injuries
• Better hand endurance
• Improved dexterity
• Decreased pain due to arthritis

Hand exercises aren’t complicated or tough to do. Nor do they require any fancy equipment. If you are interested in a gadget to exercise your hands, there are options such as a hand gripper, which will work out your entire hand. Or, you can perform exercises at home without any equipment like the following examples.

• Make a gentle fist wrapping your thumb around your fingers. Hold for thirty to sixty seconds and then release and spread your fingers wide. Repeat this with both hands at least four times.
• Place your hand palm down on a table or other flat surface. Gently straighten your fingers as flat as possible without straining your joints. Hold for thirty to sixty seconds and repeat at least four times with each hand.
• Hold your hand out in front of you with your palm facing you. Bend your fingertips to touch the base of each finger joint, sort of like a claw. Hold for thirty to sixty seconds and then release. Repeat at least four times with each hand.