The Benefits of Hand Strengthening According to Research

The Benefits of Hand Strengthening Exercises According to Research. Being healthy is probably the topmost priority for most people. In this modern age, we all know how important it is for us to maintain a healthy body to prevent diseases such as heart attack or stroke. For some, it means going regularly to the gym and doing some resistance workout but to others, simple hand strengthening exercises will do the trick.

A lot of people may not know this, but having a good grip can actually have a lot of benefits. For instance, hand strengthening exercises are extremely important for rock climbers in order for them to develop their grip and maintain their hold. For stroke survivors, these types of exercises are essential for them to regain their fine motor skills.

Aside from these, developing a strong grip could have other wonderful benefits. Let’s explore some of them below:

 1. Lowers the Risk of Heart Attacks and Stroke

Growing old is inevitable. The older the person gets, the more likely it is for him/her to experience stroke or suffer from cardiovascular diseases. And as nature would have it, their muscle mass would slowly start to decline as well.

A study published in The Lancet in July 2015 assessed the hand strength of 140,000 adults from ages 35 to 70. The results showed that a 5-kg decline in grip strength was associated with 17% increased risk of dying from a heart attack. 7% risk of having a heart attack and a 9% risk of experiencing stroke. They then concluded that stronger grips were associated with more muscle mass. The more muscle mass a person has, the less likely it is for him/her to experience heart diseases or stroke.

2. Improves Mobility

Did you know that your grip could also predict your mobility in your golden years? In fact, a study published by Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences established a connection between grip strength and mobility. The results showed that men who have weaker grips (less than 26 kg). Are more likely to face issues relating to mobility in the future compared to men who have normal strength grips.

3. Improved Quality of Life

Stronger grips are also associated with an improved quality of life especially at an older age. A study in 1999 concluded that among older people. Hand grips are a great indicator of functional limitations in later life. They also added that having good muscle strength is a great way to avoid any old age disabilities in the future.

Another study published by Oxford Academic in 2010 showed that people over 85 with weak hand grips. Are more likely to experience faster cognitive decline.

Hand strengthening exercises is usually the type of exercise most people often overlook. They think it’s a complete waste of time and effort. To perform an exercise that would only affect less than 5% of the body when in truth, it’s just as important as any other workouts.

The ones listed above are just some of the many advantages of having a strong grip. Although it’s just a small part of our body. Having a good grip could be actually be beneficial to a person – athlete or not – in a lot of ways. If it isn’t part of your exercise program yet, it might be a good idea to start incorporating it now.

by Biel Fit
www.bielfit.com
Check out our products and eBook