How Do Your Hands Work?

For optimal use of your hands in any sport, hobby, or profession, your hands require:

• balance – you have all-around hand strength and health

• flexibility – joints and tendons move comfortably and easily

• range of motion – fingers and wrists move and rotate fully

• dexterity – fingers are nimble and agile, ready to perform at work
   or play

• muscle control – fingers and hands respond well in a wide range
   of movements

• blood flow – hands, wrists, and forearms benefit from good
   blood circulation

In 1991, IronMind began promoting the idea that hand strength is composed of more than just a crushing (squeezing) grip. Understanding the basic movements of your hand will help you to choose the right products to develop and maintain strong and healthy hands.

Components of hand strength:

Crushing (squeezing)
Think of shaking hands: this is the most familiar element of grip. Whether you’re holding a tennis racket or a toothbrush, the crushing movement is one you’re likely to do hundreds of times a day.

Pinching (using your thumb)
How strong is your thumb? If you have to pinch grip something, the strength of your thumb often determines your success or failure, whether you’re pinch gripping a latte or a struggling opponent’s arm.

Open hand
If you open your hand so that your fingers are not clenched and maybe only your fingertips are bent—to play the piano, climb a rock wall, type on a keyboard, or pull a heavy box toward you— you'll
understand the need for strong fingers.

Extensors
Most people think of hand strength in terms of contracting their fingers in the crushing movement—and want to squeeze, squeeze, and squeeze some more to build their grip. Muscle balance promotes strength and health so you'll want to do some movement in the opposite direction, extending your fingers outward.

Wrist strength
If you have a strong wrist, it adds stability and power to your hand and fingers so that maximum effort can be exerted—and it helps prevent injuries as well.

Each of these types of hand strength can be developed for:

• maximum power, such as closing the toughest Captains of Crush Gripper you are capable of or performing at the limits of your chosen field—or even opening a very tough jar lid

• sustained effort, such as rowing, swinging a racket, climbing a rock face, shoveling your driveway, or raking your lawn