Hand Strength for Longevity
As part of our discussion with founder Arnold Tobin of Thenar Performance Labs, we thought it would be good to discuss the idea of functional hand strength. Tobin differentiates between finger and hand strength. Simply put, functional hand strength is the normal range of motion in the opening and closing of the hand.
There is a direct link between hand strength and longevity, says Tobin. Those who tend to have excellent hand strength live longer because they can perform daily activities as they age. We lose power in our hands as we age. However, this only occurs if we fail to challenge ourselves. Strong hands also help with upper body strength.
It’s All About Grip Force
According to Tobin, hand specialists and therapists don’t test grip force based on the functional anatomical position of the individual fingers. A dynamometer is the instrument used to measure isometric grip force (handgrip strength). Unfortunately, the dynamometer fails to measure true handgrip force. In an open grip, fingers two and three (the index and middle fingers) generate the greatest strength in testing.
Due to the limitation of the dynamometer, Thenar has developed the Thenometer, a glove with a wireless interface. The Thenometer measures each finger’s grip force and strength in their natural functional position. When making a fist, the most significant power is generated by the ring, and the pinky finger. The sequence for finger force of the three digits fingers in a secure grip is five, four, three, and two. So, functional hand strength is not just resistance and compression; it’s actually stretching and flexibility.
The lumbricals, or what Tobin refers to as the hand’s brain, are the muscles of the hand that control knuckle flexion. The more flexion you have in your knuckles, the greater the force/power your fingers and hand can generate. The inflexibility of these muscles often leads to cramping.
Exercise Those Hands and They’ll Thank for It!
Tobin recommends performing hand stretches between 10-12 minutes every night to improve functional hand strength while also using Thenar gloves for compression and resistance training. Thenar’s multi-directional strengthening system combined with stretching will help improve hand force, which is particularly important for the elderly and women. One of Thenar’s satisfied customers, an over 90-year-old woman, was able to work out using a 20-pound dumbbell after improving her functional hand strength. Often taken for granted, our hands are critical to our health and the quality of life, particularly as we age. By taking just a few minutes a day to work out your fingers and hands should go a long way towards improving performance and overall health.
