Hand grip exercises can effectively increase the strength of your grip as well as build strength in the wrists and, to some extent, in the forearms. While many people associate growth of forearm muscles with hand grip exercises, this is not necessarily the case. Hand grip exercise is focused primarily on increasing the ability of the fingers to grasp firmly, and on strengthening the wrist. In addition, some studies have shown that hand grip exercise helps improve the function of the blood vessels and makes them more flexible. This has the long-term effect of lowering blood pressure.

Hand grip exercise, then, can not only help you strengthen your grip, but can also bring about improvements to your overall health.

Grip Strength Training

There are many approaches to grip strength training. Some involve use of weights or equipment specially designed to help improve your grip. Others can be done with everyday household items.

Athletic grippers are a good tool for building your grip strength. As a staple for use in hand grip exercise, use a strong set of grippers. Many athletic grippers aren’t strong enough to truly build a powerful grip, so shop around before settling on a pair.

Many hand grip exercises can be performed using regular plates from a weightlifting set. Holding heavy weights with a regular hand grip effectively develops your grip strength. You can build up from lighter weights to heavier weights, gradually increasing your grip strength.

Walking while carrying dumbbells also increases your grip strength. You can also do hand grip exercise using heavy objects you find around the house, varying the weights and the way you hold them to give your grip a comprehensive workout.

Other simple hand grip exercises include hanging from a chin-up bar or holding a bar as if you were at the top of a dead lift. The latter approach can be intensified by adding weights to the bar, gradually increasing your ability to grip.

The best way to approach hand grip exercise is to use a variety of different approaches with each workout. Try mixing four or five exercises for each session, and varying the mix each time you work out. With diligent hand grip exercise, you’ll soon see a major difference in your strength, your grip, and your overall health.