Exercises for Arthritis Hands

If you have arthritis pain in your hands, keep your hands nimble by doing regular finger and hand exercises. The following exercises show moves that can ease arthritis pain and stiffness. You can do these hand exercises daily or even several times a day.

Exercise when it's best for you. You might find it helpful to do these hand exercises while soaking your hands in warm water or while bathing. The heat from the water in the shower or tub may make it easier for you to move your joints.

But know your limitations. These hand exercises shouldn't cause pain. Avoid exercise if your joints are tender, injured or severely inflamed. Relax your hand. Start with your fingers straight and close together. Bend the end and middle joints of your fingers. Keep your wrist and knuckles straight. Moving slowly and smoothly, return your hand to the starting position. Repeat with your other hand. If you can, perform multiple repetitions of this exercise on each hand. Make a fist

Start with your fingers straight and spread apart. Make a loose, gentle fist and wrap your thumb around the outside of your fingers. Be careful not to squeeze your fingers together too tightly. Moving slowly and smoothly, return to the starting position. Repeat. Perform this exercise on both hands. Open your hand wide

Spread your fingers apart as wide as you can and hold that position. Slowly relax your fingers and bring them together. Return to the open-wide position. Repeat with each hand and gradually add to the number of repetitions. Touch your fingertips

Straighten your fingers and thumb. Bend your thumb across your palm, touching the tip of your thumb to the pad of your hand just below your pinky finger. If you can't make your thumb touch, just stretch as far as you can. Return your thumb to its starting position, as shown in images 1 through 3.

For the next exercise, form the letter O by touching your thumb to each fingertip, as shown in images 4 through 6. Moving slowly and smoothly, touch your index finger to your thumb, then straighten your fingers. Touch your middle finger to your thumb and straighten. Follow with your ring and pinky fingers.

Repeat both exercises on your other hand. Walk your fingers

Rest your hand on a flat surface, such as a tabletop, with your palm facing down and your fingers spread slightly apart. Moving one finger at a time, slowly walk your fingers toward your thumb. Start by lifting and moving your index finger toward your thumb. Follow by lifting and moving your middle finger toward your thumb. Proceed with moving your ring finger and then your pinky finger toward your thumb. Don't move your wrist or thumb while doing this exercise. Repeat with your other hand.