IronMind Expand-Your-Hand Bands

I use these to keep my hands/fingers limber before and after tasks requiring gripping a tool for a long period of time. I work in construction, do a lot of writing, draw and carve. Before getting and using these, I would find it difficult to unclench my hands after longer or more strenuous sessions of any of those. Sometimes it would feel like my knuckles had detents while unclenching for a few minutes. Started using these and within a pretty short time that stopped happening. If I'm swinging a sledgehammer all day, I'll use the green or even white bands while on break to keep my hands fresh, then do it again for a few minutes at the end of the day. Forearm strain was also reduced. You could do similar with rubber bands, but they would be less consistent, less comfortable, maybe less durable, and more likely to end up getting used for their intended purpose. Just ordered my second set.

These are the best bands for extensor workouts. I've bought this pack three times in 9 years. They wear out and break after a couple years of use like any other band. Regular use they will last a couple years per pack. Not perfect, I wish they would be a little more robust and wish they made an even heavier duty one.

I got carpal tunnel / RSI (Repetitive stress injury) in my wrists and hands from typing and using the mouse for long periods of time at work. Especially clicking the mouse too much and bending my wrist left and right. I started dreading sitting down to work again and had to take time off and make drastic changes. I got an ergonomic keyboard and mouse along with these exercise bands and have not had any pain since I recovered, and am able to sit for longer periods of time (up to 1.5 hour) with no strain. Using these bands have strengthened my extensor and forearms muscles significantly and allow me to work with a clear mind knowing that I have the muscles and pliability to not get injured again. The key was understanding that your hand actually starts at your shoulder regarding the muscles that extend from the shoulder to your fingertips. There are so many key ligaments (bone to bone) and tendons (bone to muscle) that can get easily injured without proper care. I recommend searching on google for "extensor muscles" to see how the muscles are linked and really put in your mind why it's essential to increase your arm and hand pliability through exercise and stretching, which these bands do perfectly!

I like these bands. I use these along with the Captains of Crush Hand Gripper - No. 1 and the Gripmaster Exercise Tool, Light , to give my fingers and hands a good workout. The workout is pretty straight forward. You put the bands around your fingers, place them just under the fingernails and try as many times as you can to expand your fingers outward. It's a good workout, too. I do the reps until I feel the "burn" in my fingers. I do two sets each hand about twice a week. Now I feel more dexterity with my fingers after using these bands. I'm using the blue bands now (see photos posted). The other bands (except the red ones) are really too weak to give my fingers any real type of workout. I am not a doctor or hand specialist, but I do feel using these are a good workout. If you are a weight lifter, practicing martial artist, or especially a musician learning/playing a stringed instrument(s), etc., working with these bands will definitely be beneficial to you. I am happy with them so far. Now while these bands, I feel, do give your fingers a good workout. These are still basically rubber bands. IronMind states these bands are specially treated. Good. I do follow the advice of IronMind in "keeping these bands in a drawer, out of light, and definitely out of direct sunlight -- and also away from heat (so not in the glove box in your car during the summer, etc.)". But I still have the question in my mind: How long will these bands last? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update: Monday June 14, 2010 "But I still have the question in my mind: How long will these bands last?" The bands should last about a year and a half (give or take a few months). I was using the blue bands (the next strongest after the red bands) about twice a week, keeping them in a drawer when not in use. Then one day while I was using them, I noticed a small hole developed in one of the bands. I did another stretch and then - Pop! No more band. I recommend that if you're going to use these bands, use just one (you get 10 bands, five different colors, one set of each color) at a time for both hands. You'll get longer use out of them. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update: Sunday May 19, 2013 "But I still have the question in my mind: How long will these bands last?" I am currently using one of the large red bands. That's been well over two years now. And they're still going strong! Both blue bands I had used earlier didn't last that long. I'm surprised it (red band) lasted beyond two years of consistent use. So I still recommend using just one band at time, and when you're not using them to put them away in a drawer or closet. Store it somewhere away from bright light and heat. I can't say exactly how long they'll last, but each band should last a few years at least. I would also recommend these bands to: Data Entry Clerks, Word Processors, Stenographers and Keyboardists or maybe to anyone with early signs of arthritis. In my opinion, along with the Captains of Crush Hand Grippers, they seem to lessen the pain/discomfort significantly.

I nearly ordered another finger extending tool. But when I saw these were Iron Mind, I dropped the others to pick this one up instead. Yes, this set is likely more expensive than other alternatives but I wasn't convinced the others would last long. These are thin but I'm not concerned at all they will break. It's true you could likely use rubber bands but in the long run these are more logical practically speaking. I didn't realize how weak my right hand was until I used the trainer band (white) and my fingers were twitching, and my other hand was fine. I got these from Iron Mind and with another twisting bars set for my tennis elbow, and it's finally starting to get better.

These bands are a great counter intuitive exercise to the usual squeeze that most people use for grip strength training. Most people don’t do this and they should work on the opposite strength as well. These bands are perfect for that.

These are the best items I have found to train finger extension movements. It is important to train extension along with the flexion movements that are much more common for gripping items when you are working out to avoid muscle imbalances that would lead to tendonitis. As far as the bands go, placing them just below my fingernails and extending my fingers is intuitive and not difficult to set up. When I started with these even the skinniest, lightest bands proved a challenge despite my grip being quite strong. I can see a long road ahead of me to work up to the thickest bands.

I got 11 months out of these before the most-used one (green) snapped. They work fine but they don't last forever....