Our index finger is strong enough to support our entire body weight, as can be seen by these Shaolin monks doing two-finger push-ups. — TCL Acroarts
Like our toes, our fingers are another body part we tend to ignore.
Our hands are often the first point of contact with our environment, and movement with our hands is a primary way of communicating.
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Finger exercises
Make a fist: To start, make a tight fist, with the thumb outside. Hold for five seconds, then stretch out all the fingers for another five seconds. — Photos: REVATHI MURUGAPPAN/The Star
Make a C: Place a rubber band over your fingers and thumb, and create the letter "C”. Hold this stretch for 10 seconds, then relax and repeat a few times.
Meet the thumb: Hold your hand out in front of you and gently use your thumb to touch each of your four fingertips and make the shape "O”. Keep the other fingers straight. Hold each stretch for 10 seconds.
Play the piano: Place your palm facing down on a flat surface and lift each finger up as high as you can, one at a time. Hold each stretch for 10 seconds. If it becomes too easy, use a rubber band for added resistance.
Finger abduction: Place your palm on a flat surface and loop (or double loop) a rubber band between two fingers, beginning with the index and middle fingers. Try to move them apart as far as possible. Hold the stretch for 10 seconds and release. Move on to the middle and ring fingers, then ring finger and pinky, before repeating the exercise.
Thumb abduction: Place your palm on a flat surface with a rubber band around the fingers and thumb. Move your thumb as far away from the four fingers as you can and hold the stretch for 10 seconds before relaxing.
Golf ball roll: Once you’re done with the rubber band, you can add on this tension-releasing exercise using a golf ball. Place the golf ball on a flat surface and put your palm over it. Using a circular motion, roll the ball from the bottom of the palm to the top, sides, fingers and back around, making sure you hit every point. If it’s too easy, apply a bit more pressure and pause a little longer at the tender spots. After rolling the perimeter, massage the centre with small circles, clockwise and anti-clockwise. Repeat five times.
