How to Get Strength Back in Hands After a Stroke
A stroke is when blood supply to a part of the brain is reduced, which deprives the brain of oxygen and vital nutrients. According to the University of Michigan Health System, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. It's also the leading cause of disability. Stroke patients often have trouble gripping objects and, thus, need to develop coordination and strength in their hands. This can be accomplished through certain hand exercises.
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Instructions
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Grab an encyclopedia book in your right hand. Fully extend your right arm down at your side. Walk across the room and back with the encyclopedia in your hand. Switch hands and walk across the room and back with the encyclopedia in your left hand.
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2
Grab some therapy putty. Break the putty in half with your right hand. Use just your right hand and fingers to form a ball with the putty. Take the other half of the putty and use your left hand to form a ball with that segment of putty.
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Place the two balls of putty on the table. Using your right hand only, roll one ball of putty into a snake by moving your hand back and forth. Keep your knuckles flexed, arch your hand and lower it each time you move forward and back. Do the same movement with your left hand, rolling the second ball of putty into a snake.
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Put both balls of putty back together. Using your right hand, squeeze the ball of putty for five seconds, then relax. Repeat three times. Switch hands and squeeze the ball of putty with your left hand. Do three repetitions.
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Sit in a chair and grab a 10-lb. dumbbell. Place the back of your wrist against your knee (palms facing up), lean forward, lower the dumbbell down with just your wrist, then raise it back up. Flex your forearm at the end of the movement. Do 10 repetitions. Repeat same movement with your opposite arm. Next, grab the 5-lb. dumbbell. Place it against your knee with your palm facing downward. Slowly lower the weight then raise it back up. Flex your forearm as you bring the dumbbell up. Do 10 repetitions with each arm.
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Tips & Warnings
There are many exercises you can perform to build hand strength after a stroke. Some of the exercises will be more difficult for you. You do not have to do all of the exercises. Start slowly and gradually add more exercises each week. The putty exercises will help you build both hand strength and coordination. You can also squeeze a tennis ball after you get used to squeezing the putty. Simply squeezing your hands together then flicking them outward will also build hand strength. Your hand strength will increase as you develop the flexor (closes hand) and extensor muscles (opens hand) in your forearms.
Do not do the dumbbell exercises if you are unable to hold the weight for more than a few seconds. You may need to build more hand strength to perform dumbbell exercises.
