Hand exercises?

[Jules13]

Anyone got any morning hand and wrist exercises to get strength and flexibility back?

[hawker955]

Jules13. You can get grip-strengthening devices at sports-shops etc. They are V-shaped with a strong coil at the bottom of the V. They are not expensive at all and very good for grip-strength.

HTH?

[Jackynic in reply to hawker955]

I have the same trouble was advised against getting grips etc by physio

[helixhelix]

Right now I'm not sure you should be forcing your hands & wrists, so would avoid strengthening and weights. I think your RA is still pretty much uncontrolled? So stick to range of movement exercises like these

uhs.nhs.uk/Media/Controlled...

[Jules13 in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks Hh. Those are great. X

[Kai--]

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📹 Wrist Alphabet: vimeo.com/76074609

📹 Strengthening [Arms, Hands, Wrists]: vimeo.com/76069085

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Additional RA-Specific Exercise Videos from NRAS 📹 : nras.org.uk/exercise-videos

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[Supplementally: Gentle Chair Yoga for RA, X-Ray Yoga for Wonderment: healthunlocked.com/nras/pos... ]

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🙏 🍀 🌺 🌞

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[Jules13 in reply to Kai--]

🙏

[nomoreheels]

Yes, loads Jules, but they are my Occupational Therapy exercises, personalised following assessment. It's not a good idea I'm afraid to just start exercising, there are warm up exercises just as there are for any other joints for a start. Even so some which I was given I'd not to start until I managed 10 reps of others & even then I've only to exercise twice a week. So, to be sure you don't strain or even damage anything I would really recommend you ask to be referred to OT at your hospital for hand exercise for arthritis, either your Rheumy or GP can do this.

[Jules13 in reply to nomoreheels]

Well she won't give me any yet because I'm still too inflamed. Boo.

[nomoreheels in reply to Jules13]

There's your answer then, from experience it's best to listen to the pro's! I have to say the ones I was given were quite difficult to do when I first started them & can now only do them with the one hand because of CT trouble.

[Sweetheart0377]

This is going to sound silly but buy juggling balls or stress balls great for gentle exercising of the fingers and hands with no stress on joints x

[Jules13 in reply to Sweetheart0377]

God I haven't juggled in years. Great idea xx

[nomoreheels in reply to Jules13]

If you want to do some very gentle exercise you could maybe try Play-Doh, that's what I was advised to start off with, 1 tub per hand.

[Jules13 in reply to nomoreheels]

Oh the smell of play doh will Yale me back to my childhood!! Lovely idea x

[nomoreheels in reply to Jules13]

I don't think it smells as it did, not as strong, that or my memory's playing tricks! If you get some you'll probably have to ask someone to take the lid off for you, I couldn't manage it.

[maccnc in reply to Sweetheart0377]

Agree w sweetheart. Also there are soft foam balls abt 4 inches in dia.great for a gentle stretch and squeeze. U might find them in toy deptfor todlers or Walmart.

I use one as it feels good.

[Jules13 in reply to maccnc]

I have small Pilates balls. X

[esther231]

My wrists and hands were terrible. I had to start slow :). I started gently moving them in hot water when I took a bath. At first just gently side to side. In a bit, I started doing the hand exercises in the bath. It was a good start for me.

[Jules13 in reply to esther231]

Heat of anything helps. Hot water bottles, wheat bags.