FREE GYMNASTIC EXERCISES FOR THE WRIST.[6]
_First movement._
[Illustration: Fig. 17.]
[Illustration: Fig. 18.]
Move the wrist, _without moving the arm or elbow_, vigorously up and
down in a perpendicular direction, from 20 to 40 times, first slowly,
then more quickly; finally, as quick as possible. In doing so, let the
elbows rest close to the body, so as to bring both hands and wrists
into the proper position. As soon as you are tired, leave off.
_Second movement._
[Illustration: Fig. 19.]
[Illustration: Fig. 20.]
Move the hand horizontally or vertically without moving the arm.
To understand the practical utility of this exercise (19, 20), it ought
to be borne in mind that the entire action of the wrist is effected by
two principal joints, one of which, the smaller of the two, lies at
the root of the hand, and is called the “joint of the hand,” by means
of which it becomes possible to move the hand, independently of the
arm, at its root. The other joint, the larger of the two, rises from
the elbow, and is called the rotatory joint of the forearm. Holding,
then, all the five fingers close together, move the smaller joint
perpendicularly or horizontally, as you please, without in any way
moving the arm, and at the same time holding the elbow close to the
body.
_Third movement._
[Illustration: Fig. 21.]
[Illustration: Fig. 22.]
Move the wrist in a slanting direction right and left, as above, first
slowly, then quicker and quicker. Hold the elbows as before. By this
movement, both the joints mentioned above will be put into action, 21,
22.
[Illustration: _Fourth movement._
Fig 23.]
The young violinist, who generally finds the sideways movement of the
wrist of the right hand so difficult, will derive great advantage from
all these wrist exercises.
Holding your arm quite still, move the free hand or fist vigorously
round in a circle, 20 times to the right, and 20 times to the left,
first slowly, then more quickly. By this exercise all the muscles of
the hand and the arm will be put into motion, and though the most
difficult of all, this is at the same time one of the most important
exercises.
All these several free movements of the hand and fingers may be
repeated _many times_, with advantage; still by simply performing them,
short though they be, daily and regularly, the prescribed time only,
the desired end of strengthening the muscles of the fingers and wrists,
and rendering them vigorous and flexible, will be surely attained.
I could mention some other free exercises of the fingers; but since
they are neither so practical nor so effective as those I have already
described, I prefer to omit them.
FOOTNOTES:
[6] One or two of these exercises may possibly have been mentioned in
some former work.