Nick Maroldi, a physical therapist and certified hand therapist at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), discussed ways to improve grip strength in an interview with The New York Times. He explained that grip strength is used in daily activities such as lifting groceries, pulling weeds, or turning a key. Maroldi noted, “A lot of these things require more strength than you may really notice until you start to lose it.”
Research has shown that strong grip strength is associated with better overall health and longevity, while a weak grip can be linked to heart disease, cognitive decline, and certain cancers. Including exercises that focus on grip strength may help make daily tasks easier and improve quality of life.
Maroldi advised against using stress balls for improving grip. He said, “Repeatedly clenching your hand can worsen or even cause issues like carpal tunnel, trigger finger or tendinitis.” Instead, he recommended exercises that target the hands, wrists, and shoulders to strengthen the entire muscle chain involved in grip.
The full article is available at nytimes.com.
