What is arm exercises?

Arm Exercises
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Arm and wrist exercises: Overview

Your doctor can give you information about exercises for building flexibility and strength in your hand, wrist, and arm.

Exercises for flexibility may include:

  • Rotating your wrist up, down, and from side to side.
  • Stretching your fingers far apart, then relaxing them, then stretching them again.
  • Stretching your thumb by pulling it back gently, holding it, and then releasing it.

Exercises to increase strength may include:

  • Squeezing a rubber ball.
  • Wrist curls and extensions with a light weight.

If any exercise or motion causes pain or swelling, stop that exercise, or reduce the intensity or amount of motion.

How to do arm extensions

Before starting any exercise program, talk to your doctor. He or she may ask that you do specific exercises and will help you figure out not only how often and how long to do them but also your long-term exercise program goals.

Start the exercise slowly and gradually. Either keep track of how long you can do it or count the number of times you can do it before you are mildly out of breath. Then rest and move on to the next exercise. Each week, increase the time you spend doing each exercise or how many times you do each one.

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  1. Sit with your feet slightly apart and your arms by your side.
  2. Breathe out as you raise one arm to shoulder height, keeping the arm straight and pointing to the side.
  3. Breathe in as you return your arm to your side.

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