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

by Edwin Ward Jackson

2. The connecting links between the bones of the middle-hand and the bones of the wrist are loosened (Fig. 2 bb).

3. Almost all the ligaments of the cavity of the hand are made flexible.

4. At the same time, all the muscles of the hand, and particularly the muscles situated between the bones (Fig. 4 b), generally so little practised, are stirred into activity by the cylinders, the stick, the staff, and the free exercises.

From the diagrams (Fig. 2 and 3) it may be plainly seen, what was mentioned before, viz., that the movement of the middle-hand and of the bones of the wrist in general, unless specially practised, is very inconsiderable; while through the cylinder gymnastics prescribed in this work, that limited movement of the bones is rendered more easy. It may also be seen from the diagrams that, if both the great and the small tight transversal ligaments remain still and firm, they impede and render more difficult the free movement of the fingers in every direction; and these ligaments will always remain stiff and tight, unless they be specially trained.

Fig. 4.

For this reason the cylinder exercise, just mentioned, is particularly intended to loosen the impeding transversal ligaments, as well as to exercise and strengthen all the muscles of the hand and fingers.

To convince yourself that this opinion is correct, extend your fingers for two minutes only with the cylinders alluded to, and you will find that the fingers instantaneously move much more easily, and that the muscles, liberated from their tight, stiff neighbours, act with much greater freedom.

In the same manner as with the cylinders, the greatest advantage may be experienced from the use of the gymnastic staff or stick.

The principle on which these movements are founded is, that by them almost all the muscles of the hand and the fingers, the smallest as well as the largest, which in playing musical instruments and all the other occupations of the fingers bear the chief part, are stirred into action. At the same time, the extraordinary effect of the free exercises on the large finger-joints and on the ligaments and tendons is increased. And further—every portion of the hand and fingers, ligaments, tendons, joints, and particularly the muscles, are well practised, strengthened, and rendered flexible, by the fingers being stretched and extended on, pressed and exercised against, a solid body. Finally, while imparting to the muscles of the fingers and hand far greater strength and ease than the continued quick movement on the musical instrument is calculated to affect, all these exercises affect the nerves in a lesser degree, and prepare the fingers for all kinds of work.