How to Exercise the Mouse Finger
If you have a sedentary job, you have probably experience mild finger cramping brought on by excessive use of the keyboard and mouse during the workday. Fortunately, however, you can avoid this problem with judicious practice of finger exercises to increase the muscular strength and flexibility of your fingers. Performing simple finger exercises several times throughout the day can help protect your hands, and especially your mouse finger, against unwanted strain.
Instructions
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1
Perform simple finger stretching exercises to limber up your hands. Press your hands together in front of your body. Begin the stretch by slowly pulling your palms apart while keeping your fingers tightly pressed together. You should feel a light stretching in your fingers and in the tendons and ligaments of your hand. Hold this stretched position for 10 to 15 seconds, repeating for two or three sets while aiming to slightly increase the stretch as your fingers limber up.
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From the position in step 1, separate your hands farther apart until just your fingertips are in contact with those of your opposite hand. Shape both your hands into claws while keeping the fingertips lightly pressed together. Now press your fingertips together with slowly increasing force, aiming to maintain a constant hand position. Hold this isometric contraction for five to 10 seconds, then relax without taking your hands apart. Repeat the drill two or three more times.
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3
Strengthen your mouse finger by holding it over your desk, using your hand to cup an imaginary mouse. Begin fluttering your mouse finger as though you were performing clicks as rapidly as you are able. Keep up this frantic clicking pace for a period of 10 seconds, followed by 20 seconds of rest. Continue alternating in this interval fashion for a total of two minutes, during which time you perform four sets of this activity.
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Perform finger extensions as a final drill. Use your mouse finger alone or use your entire hand. Assuming you want to work your entire hand, initiate the movement by clenching your hand tightly into a fist. Hold, squeezing for a full second then quickly expand your hand as wide as possible, spreading the fingers apart while keeping them fully straight. Hold in the expanded position for a second, then switch back to the fist. Continue going back and forth for 10 to 20 seconds, or until your hand gets tired.
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