![[For Seniors] Hand and finger play roundup: Finger exercises that lead to brain training](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/daRrkOTUmq0/sddefault.jpg)
[For Seniors] Hand and finger play roundup: Finger exercises that lead to brain training
For older adults, moving their hands and fingers is very important because it helps stimulate brain activity.
That’s why many senior care facilities incorporate hand and finger play as a way to help prevent dementia.
Among these activities, brain-training style hand and finger games may seem difficult at first, but they allow participants to talk and think together—saying things like “I did it!” or “How do you do this part?”—so they can enjoy the activity while engaging in communication.
There are exercises that involve different movements with the left and right hands, or moving the fingers while singing.
Please choose and adapt activities according to each older adult’s physical and mental condition.
[For Seniors] Collection of Hand and Finger Games: Finger Exercises That Lead to Brain Training (1–10)
Good Exercises
I’d like to introduce the “Good Exercise,” a routine that makes you want to imitate it as soon as you see it.
With one hand, make an OK sign facing downward, and with the other hand, make a thumbs-up sign.
Then place the thumbs-up on top of the OK sign, and repeat this motion.
When you switch the thumbs-up from one hand to the other smoothly, it feels surprisingly satisfying.
Try aiming for a pace of about once per second.
Of course, it’s fine to go faster or slow down as you like.
Goo-Paa Exercise
The “Goo-Paa” exercise stimulates the brain by repeating simple hand movements.
Some parts don’t require complex motions, so it’s recommended for seniors who want to move their bodies gently.
As you raise your arms into position, make fists (goo), then open your hands (paa) as you extend your arms—repeat this sequence.
You can switch the order of goo and paa, or make just one hand a different shape.
You can also try variations like stretching your arms upward or marching in place.
Give this relaxed, go-at-your-own-pace hand exercise a try.
Simple finger exercises
This is a brain-training exercise where you count numbers using your fingers held out in front of your body, gradually adding more elements to how you move them.
When you focus on your hands in front of you, it’s easy to slip into a relaxed posture, so it’s important to be mindful about sitting up straight with your back extended.
Start by making the same shape with both hands; once you get used to that, move on to making different shapes, gradually increasing the complexity of how you switch between them.
If you add not only hand shapes but also forward/back and side-to-side movements of the arms, it will further enhance the brain-training effect and help you stay aware of your arm muscles as well.
Alternating Number Counting Exercise
Hand games that involve different movements with the left and right hands are said to be effective for preventing dementia.
So I’d like to introduce the “Alternating Number Counting Exercise.” In this exercise, you raise the fingers on your left and right hands according to the count.
For example, at 1 you raise one finger on your left hand, and at 2 you raise two fingers on your right hand.
Once you get used to it, you can add variations, such as clapping in between counts.
That will make the movements noticeably more complex.
Another option is to alternate crossing your hands as you go.
If, if, Mr. Turtle
Let’s try some brain training with hand and finger games.
It’s an exercise where you fold down your fingers to the tune of the children’s song “Moshimoshi Kameyo.” There are different ways to fold the fingers, and the difficulty increases.
It’s easy to fold the same fingers on both hands—thumb, index, and middle—at the same time.
But having one hand lag by a beat and folding different fingers on each side—like “index and thumb,” then “middle and index”—is quite tricky even for young people.
You might call it the brain-training world’s version of a round, like “By the Quiet Lakeside.”
Finger rotation exercise
Finger-play exercises activate the brain.
In this one, you press the fingertips of both hands together, then separate just one pair and twirl those fingers forward and backward.
Keeping your hands in a rounded shape while rotating the separated fingers without touching the others is a true brain workout.
You’ll find yourself focusing your nerves on your fingers and moving them quietly, but try to have fun and pick up the pace.
Start by rotating the thumbs, then the middle fingers, and the index fingers in order.
A tough challenge awaits with the ring fingers next.
The human body is fascinating, isn’t it?
Funny Clapping Exercise
An exercise where everyone claps in unison following a model can stimulate the brain by requiring you to judge movements from the example.
As you proceed with clapping in various rhythms, it can also help you focus on the speed of your movements and how much force you use.
A recommended flow is to gradually increase the clapping speed and then stop suddenly; the moment of seeing whether everyone can halt cleanly might even spark some laughter.
In addition to concentration on the model and awareness of speed and force, tapping the body can also help promote blood circulation.