![]() RELATED: Rehabilitation for People With Multiple Sclerosis 3. You can also use a small rubber band on two or three fingers at a time. To add resistance, place a rubber band around your fingers when they're in the closed position (it should fit snugly), and then spread them apart, pressing against the band. Perform three to five repetitions to start progress to 10 to 15 reps. Spread the fingers apart and then squeeze them together. How to Do It Straighten the thumb and fingers of one hand. “I have seen too many who work on finger flexion and forget that finger extension is just as important.”įinger abduction and adduction exercises are important for improving range of motion, says Walls. Hand exercises should always be done in groups, adds Walls. “The added benefit of using Theraputty or a washcloth is the sensory stimulation that helps with numbness.” “I recommend a soft to medium resistance, not a firm resistance,” says Walls. Walls frequently recommends Theraputty, which is available on Amazon and often comes with some pictured exercises. These objects will provide some resistance. ![]() Place the washcloth or putty on a tabletop, squeeze it in your hand, then push or roll it back out with your fingers. To focus more on strength, hold a rolled-up washcloth or ball of therapeutic putty in your hand as you squeeze and release. “Hand muscles easily fatigue,” warns Walls. ![]() You can also use the less affected hand to stretch the more affected hand. If one hand is more affected by MS symptoms than the other, you might do two sets on that hand and only one set on the stronger hand. Start with one set of 10 reps a day, then progress to two sets in a row (or do one set twice a day). How to Do It Bend the fingers of one hand toward the palm to make a fist, then straighten your fingers and stretch out your hand. ![]() The goal of finger flexion and extension exercises is to slowly increase range of motion and strength, says Walls. RELATED: How to Manage Numbness, Tingling, and Other Sensory Symptoms of MS 1. As your range of motion and strength improve, you can add resistance to increase your hand and forearm strength. ![]() “Do the exercises to a count of 2 or 3 so your muscles have a chance to fully respond and go through the full range of motion,” advises Walls. Perform the exercises slowly, and pay attention to how you feel. The following hand exercises for MS can also improve your ability to grip and pinch with your hands. Plus, the exercises will help with stiffness that may develop from some muscles being tight, adds Walls. Hand exercises when you have MS can help you maintain or improve your hand function so you're better able to perform activities that require hand strength and coordination. “The goal is maximizing range of motion and strength so you can maintain the best function of your hands and stay independent with everyday activities.” “I recommend exercise to keep muscles moving and stretched, and it also stimulates the nerves to help with sensation,” explains Walls. When your hands are affected, everyday tasks - such as writing, typing, getting dressed, and grasping or picking up objects - can become more difficult. But symptoms affecting the hands can also include pain, muscle weakness, tremors, and problems with hand-eye coordination, says Linda Walls, an occupational therapist and consultant for the Can Do MS center in Avon, Colorado, for more than 25 years.Īll of these symptoms are caused by a disruption in communication between the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and the sensory nerves in the hands. Numbness or tingling in the hands, arms, and legs is often the earliest symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). ![]()
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