Reclaim Your Dexterity With 25 Hand Exercises For Stroke Recovery

A stroke can take a seemingly healthy and vibrant individual and change their life in an instant. Learning how to do basic daily tasks, such as self-feeding or getting dressed each day, can quickly feel like an overwhelming physical hurdle. Despite having full active movement in your affected hand, you may have decreased strength and dexterity in your hand due to your stroke. This may be making it difficult to grasp and release objects, making daily tasks seem like insurmountable obstacles. We will show you some helpful hand exercises for stroke recovery to help you reclaim your strength and dexterity.

Unfortunately, sometimes rehab does not bring back full control and use of your hands, making these daily tasks a tremendous challenge. While you begin your recovery it’s crucial that you incorporate hand exercises for stroke recovery into your daily life to bring back dexterity and use of your fingers.

Therapeutic Ball Exercises for Hand Recovery After Stroke

Therapeutic balls are extremely useful for building strength and dexterity, especially in the aftermath of a stroke event. They are widely available, in a range of resistance levels, and affordable.

Hold ball tightly in palm of hand. Squeeze the ball, hold, and relax. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #2: Thumb Extend

Place ball between bent thumb and extended two fingers of same hand. Extend and straighten the thumb to roll the ball. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #3: Pinch

Hold ball between thumb and index and middlefingers. Squeeze together, hold and relax. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #4: Opposition

Place ball in palm of hand, bringing thumb towards the base of the little finger.Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #5:  Side Squeeze

Place ball between any two fingers. Squeeze the two fingers together, hold and relax. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #6: Extend Out

Place ball on a table. Place tips of fingers on the ball and roll the ball outward on the table. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Therapeutic Putty Exercises For Hand Recovery After Stroke

Therapeutic putty is an extremely useful tool for building strength and dexterity, especially in the aftermath of a stroke event. It iswidely available, in a variety of resistance levels, and affordable.

Exercise #7: Scissor Spread

Wrap putty around two fingers and try to spread the fingers apart. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #8: Thumb Press

Place putty in palm of hand and push into it with the thumb towards the base ofthe small finger. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #9: Thumb Extension

Bend thumb and loop clay around it. Try to straighten thumb as if simulating a “thumbs up” gesture. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #10: Thumb Pinch Strengthening

Squeeze puttybetween thumb and side of index finger. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #11: Thumb Adduction

Keep fingers and thumb straight while pressing the putty between index finger and thumb. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #12: Three Jaw Chuck Pinch

Using thumb, index and middle finger, pull putty upwards. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #13: Finger Hook

Place putty in palm of hand and press fingers into a hook shape, attempting to only bend the two last joints of the fingers. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #14: Full Grip

Place putty in palm of hand and make a fist while squeezing fingers into the clay. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #15: Finger Pinch

Pinch the putty between eachfinger and the thumb. Repeat ten times for each finger, for two sets.

Exercise #16: Finger Extension

Bend finger and loop putty around it. Try to straighten finger. Repeat ten times, to each finger for two sets.

Exercise #17: Finger Scissor

Take a 1” diameter ball of putty and place between fingers. Squeeze and release. Repeat ten times, for each finger for two sets.

Exercise #18: Finger Spread

Spread a pancake of putty over the fingers. Try to spread them apart. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Hand Recovery Exercises With Everyday Household Items

It is possible that a survivor will not have therapeutic putty or a ball handy when they would like to exercise their hand. Fortunately, there are many exercises one can perform using just their body or common objects like coins or water bottles.

Exercise #19: Roll Movement

Place the affected arm on the table and place a water bottle in the affected hand. Keep the affected hand and fingers relaxed. Curl the fingers in and grasp the water bottle then release. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #20: Wrist Curl

Grasp the water bottle in the affected hand and use the non-affected hand to prop and support the affected arm. Allow the wrist to stretch down, and then curl the wrist up. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #21: Wrist Extend

Grasp the water bottle in the affected hand and use the non-affected hand to prop and support the affected arm. Position the hand so the palm is facing down, then extend the wrist. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #22: Pinch & Release

Place a pen to the side of the table and then gently grip it with the affected fingers. Slide the pen across the table, and then release. Repeat ten times, for two sets.

Exercise #23: Pen  Spin

Place a pen on the table and use the thumb and fingers to spin it. Try not to involve the shoulder in this exercise: the objective is to isolate the thumb and fingers. Aim for speed during this exercise, if possible, by spinning the pen quickly for 15 seconds.

Exercise #24: Coin Drop

Place 8 quarters in a row in the palm of the affected hand. Then, use the thumb to slide one quarter down into the index finger and thumb. Pinch the quarter with your index finger and thumb. Then, place the quarter down onto the table while keeping the other quarters in \hand using the other fingers. Repeat with the remaining quarters.

Exercise #25: Finger Opposition

Bend the affected arm, placing the elbow on the table. Bring the tip of the index finger to the tip of the thumb to make a ring. Pinch, and release. Repeat with your middle, ring, and pinkie finger. Pinch, and release. Perform with each finger, for two sets.