How to help slow the deterioration of hand joints and muscles
As you get older, various muscle systems begin to deteriorate and may affect daily life—for example, having difficulty picking up small objects, being unable to button clothes or zip up, changes in handwriting, or changes in how you hold a spoon while eating. All of these have happened to our mother, every single one. Lately, she has had to start occupational therapy to restore some skills that were lost and slow down
To prevent further deterioration, which not only helps strengthen the muscles in the hands and fingers but also stimulates brain function.
There are several ways to help slow down the deterioration of the joints and the small muscles in the hands.
First method: Clench your fist tightly and hold for about 1 second, then open your hand and spread your fingers fully. Do 10 repetitions.
Second method: Slowly spread your hand open as wide as possible, then bring your fingers together as tightly as you can. Repeat 10 times.
Third method: Bend your wrist up and down, 10 times each.
Method 4: Practice squeezing a ball. Start by slightly bending the wrist, then squeeze the ball with the thumb opposite the other four fingers, with the palm and all five fingers in contact with the ball.
Hold for about 1 second. Do 10 repetitions.
Method 5: Practice with a clothespin. Use the thumb and index finger to pinch the clothespin so the two legs come as close together as possible. Repeat 10 times. A small clothespin is suitable for fingertip training; a large clothespin
is suitable for those who cannot make a full fist.
Method 6: Practice dropping items into a container. This trains finger use and accuracy in picking up small objects. You may start with a larger coin, such as a 10-baht coin, then increase the difficulty.
By switching to smaller coins, such as 1-baht coins.
Try practicing it. If you can do it consistently every day, not only will your hand muscles become stronger, but your brain will become stronger as well.
With best wishes,
Female pharmacist, Rungmit Chunhengphan
Founder of Piti
Thank you for the good physical therapy method from the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Mahidol University.
