Jackson's Gymnastics for the Fingers and Wrist

Chapter X · FREE GYMNASTIC EXERCISES FOR THE THUMB.

Reading edition

Although it is not easy to prescribe complete gymnastic exercises for the thumb, the following, if made vigorously, will, nevertheless, be found very effective.

First movement.

Illustration from Jackson's Gymnastics for the Fingers and Wrist being a system of gymnastics, based on anatomical principles, for developing and strengthening the muscles of the hand for musical, mechanical and medical purposes: with thirty-seven diagrams

Fig. 13.

Fig. 14.

Stretch the fingers as far as possible away from one another, then press the hand firmly together, the thumb being held fast in the cavity of the hand; continue for a moment in this position, and then repeat the same movement, alternately opening and closing the hand.

Second movement.

Fig. 15.

Hold the fingers close together, stretch out the thumb, and then perform with the latter a circular movement inside the hand, first 20 times to the right, then 20 times to the left: to be repeated again and again.

Third movement.

Fig. 16.

Take hold of the thumb of the one hand with the fingers of the other, or with the whole hand, and shake it or bend it to its root, without, however, overdoing either.

In short, perform every day some exercise with the thumb, whereby it will be sufficiently brought into exercise.