[For Seniors] Enjoyable Brain Training! Finger Exercises That Help Prevent Dementia

Finger exercises you can do with one hand

Finger exercises you can do with one hand—even for people with hemiparesis!

One-handed finger exercises are highly recommended for older adults.

Simply moving each finger one by one can improve flexibility and provide good hand and finger activity.

You can incorporate various movements, such as counting on your fingers, bending and extending the fingers, and light massage, which makes it enjoyable.

It’s easy to include in daily life, so please give it a try.

You can also expect relaxation benefits, and it may improve dexterity and control of the hands.

It’s important to do them within a comfortable range, tailored to the physical and mental condition of the older adult.

Simple finger exercises

[Simple Finger Exercises] 5 Picks to Keep the Brain from Getting Bored – Brain Training Exercises for Seniors, Preventive Care

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.

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kappamaki

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Thumb and pinky finger exercise

Finger exercise video

This is a finger exercise where you raise and move the thumb and pinky in turn.

With both hands made into fists and your arms extended forward, raise only both thumbs.

Next, repeat the motion of tucking the thumbs in while raising the pinkies.

Once you get used to the simple movement, it’s also recommended to alternate the thumb and pinky back and forth.

As you practice, make sure the raised finger isn’t staying up by mistake and that the other fingers are properly lowered.

You can also move your fingers along with lively, rhythmic music or clapping.

Try incorporating this during recreation or exercise sessions at senior care facilities.

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mutō

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inchworm

Inchworm: From “Keep Your Brain Lively! Hand and Finger Play”

Let’s try to recreate the inchworm’s unique movement—shrinking and stretching as it goes—using just your fingertips! You’ll only use your thumbs and index fingers.

Press the two fingers of both hands together to form a triangle—that’s your starting position.

Touch your right thumb to the point where the index fingers meet, move your right index finger forward, then bring your left index finger up to meet the advanced right index finger and slide your left thumb there as well.

Continue sending your fingers forward in this order.

At first, go step by step while thinking it through; once you get the hang of it, try moving rhythmically to music.

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yuri

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Goo-Paa Exercise

[Exercise for Seniors: Open-and-Close (Goo-Paa) Routine] Dr. Arai’s Rock-Paper-Scissors Exercise — Recommended for brain training, dementia prevention, and care prevention. Please use it in care settings such as day-service centers. by FUKUKURU

The Goo-Pa exercise is an easy activity you can enjoy even while seated.

Movements that use the fingers help improve coordination between the brain and the hands.

It can also help prevent dementia among older adults, so it’s highly recommended.

The rhythmic motions promote overall blood circulation and can have a relaxing effect.

Enjoying it together with other participants can deepen communication as well.

It helps maintain dexterity in daily life and, overall, I think it’s a wonderful recreational activity that supports both mental and physical health.

Simple finger exercises

Finger Exercises for Seniors 2021 - Teacher Gobō

Let’s do a finger exercise while counting with both hands.

For 1 to 10, simply spread one finger at a time as you count.

From 11 onward, use one hand to show the tens digit and the other hand to increase the ones.

From 16, it gets trickier because the same hand has to show both the tens and continue forming the ones, so the difficulty goes up! Keep counting the same way past 20, and try going up to around 30.

Besides counting up in order, it’s also great to practice decreasing the numbers while keeping the same hand movements.

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SAKI

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Song Exercise

Singing Brain-Training Exercise for Seniors: Day Service, Simple Health Exercises

This song exercise features only songs recommended for winter.

Snow, Campfire, and North Wind Boy Kantarō—aren’t they all nostalgic tunes you heard as a child? Here we introduce a Goo-Choki-Paa exercise you can do while singing these popular children’s songs.

It can be done seated, so it’s reassuring from a safety standpoint for older adults.

Since many movements involve using both the upper and lower body, it helps strengthen you both physically and mentally.

You can also express actions like opening and closing your hands with your fingertips, which should provide good stimulation for the brain.

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Nanaka

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