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

Chapter 24: Second movement.

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About This Book

The author sets out a system of exercises grounded in anatomy and physiology to develop and strengthen the muscles, ligaments, and joints of the fingers, hand, and wrist. After describing experimental origins and critiques of standard instrumental training, the work presents practical routines, explanatory diagrams, and apparatus recommendations for musicians, artisans, and those with hand ailments. It explains principles, methods of instruction, and staged exercises for free movement and use of portable and fixed implements, and outlines therapeutic applications such as treatment for rheumatism and contortions, concluding with guidance on instruction, testing, and adoption of these techniques in gymnastic and medical practice.

CHAPTER X.
FREE GYMNASTIC EXERCISES FOR THE THUMB.

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.

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.