Is it possible to significantly strengthen your hands?

Question

i.e exercises, etc...?

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

I train for grip and wrist strength. It is possible to greatly strengthen one's hands.

There are so many functions of the hand, if you are trying to develop some particular attribute or if you are just serious about hand strength I recommend reading "Mastery of Hand Strength" by John Brookfield. One can use mostly home made stuff to train with but a good resouce for info and equipment is this website:
http://www.ironmind.com/ironcms/export/IronMind/Main/crushedtodust1.html

A couple of getting started ideas you can pick-from:

. Sporting Good store hand grippers are pretty whimpy, but they are a place to get started. Get an adjustable gripper and start working the fingers individually (including the thumb) through a normal range of motion. 2-3 sets of 5-15 reps.

. Lift weights with a bar of 2-3 inches in diameter instead of the traditional 1 inch bar.

. Pinch grip objects 2-5 inches thick. Don't go too wide so your hand is straining to open wide enough. Start with heavy books, then try bricks or several smooth 10-25 lb weight plates, or large rocks using one or two hands. Hold the objects for a few times for 5-15 seconds. Hold longer to develop endurance.

Ease into new exercises by starting off easy for a few workouts. Exercise within the hand's normal range of motion. Workout twice a week.

Answer 3

Here are a few simple exercises for the hand and wrist that are similiar to ones that I do. This particular page is endorsing a product called the Eggserciser, but a soft rubber or tennis ball, or nerf ball can work for you just as well. Choose one that provides some resistance against your fingers but doesn't make them cramp up.

They also sell hand exercising grips that you can squeeze. I have an Amazon page linked so you can see what I'm talking about. But they sell similiar products at Wal*Mart and Dick's Sporting Goods; they come in varying sizes and levels of resistance depending on how strong you already are.

Answer 4

Try using those little stress balls. Just figure out what movement you want to be able to be stronger at doing and do that movement over and over with resistance. Just make sure you work the right muscles, those involved with opening a jar for example would be in your forearm as well so lifting weights with your wrist might help there. To get better at grabbing things tightly then try squeezing exercises.

Answer 5

Yes, but it takes a lot of hard work over a long time. Think of an upholsterer, a car mechanic. a bricklayer. You don't do it 20 minutes three times a week.

Answer 6

Yes you can. My dad used to use me as a pipe wrench when we left the pipe wrench back at the truck, and had pipe cutting to do.

Answer 7

Perhaps the piano? It lengthens your fingers, makes it more nimble and your finger/knuckle joints become more "smooth".