Activities which improve manual dexterity

[Smilemaker100]

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After reading the thread on rock climbing and manual dexterity, I thought about starting a new thread.

I think playing a musical instrument is by far the greatest method of improving fine motor skills. 👍 Not only does one's manual dexterity improve with playing a musical instrument, but studies have shown that it helps the brain (the "Mozart effect" ) for math skills, puzzle solving, improves memory, language and other skills, especially when you learn to play as a child. Furthemore, playing a musical instrument has been shown to reduce stress.

Music training and the brain

http://apu.sfn.org/content/Publications/BrainBriefings/music_training_and_brain.htm

Musical playing reduces stress levels

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=19535

I think origami is also beneficial for developing eye hand co-ordination and improves 3D visualization. 👍

Other benefits from origami
*Reading Skills
* Writing Skills
* Processing Skills
* Visual Motor
* Temporal Spatial
* Logical Reasoning
* Attention Skills
* Concentration
* Sequencing
* Math Concepts
* Measurement
* Geometry
* Proportion
* Fractions
* Symmetry
* Problem Solving
* Science Principles
* Independent Study
* Manual Dexterity
* Speech Language

 

[Tarver330]

I'm not sure I see the direct connection between the movements of playing the piano, guitar, french horn, and doing a dental procedure. I play guitar which is my perspective. Granted, you are moving your fingers but are you working with tools to perform a very fine task?

Far and away, the best activity to train to become a dentist is building balsa wood model airplanes. The pieces are small and require delicate cutting and placement, and tools such as drills, Dremel tools, razor blades, and sanders are required. You're creating a 3D shape that must be precisely aligned and straight. Finally, you're working in a tight spot.

The delicate hand movements needed to pilot a radio-controlled airplane are similar to the movements in dentistry.

Find something you enjoy, I happen to like airplanes.

Nice balsa free-flight kits, all lazer cut:

http://www.iflyherr.com/cgi-bin/dpsmart.exe/HMainMenuF.html?E+Hrr

 

[jb54ram]

How about eating with chopsticks---I actually told them that during my interview---the uncomfortable silence afterward made me realize they didn't find it very funny

 

[toofache32]

I can think of another hand activity, but I might get banned again...

 

[v&andy_yankee]

embroidery. also tests your patience.

 

[DrJeff]

I can think of another hand activity, but I might get banned again...

Scary, I bet I was thinking the same thing 😱 😀 😉 Granted I'm in the middle of a very, very crazy morning here at the office, so anything goes!

 

[Smilemaker100]

How about eating with chopsticks---I actually told them that during my interview---the uncomfortable silence afterward made me realize they didn't find it very funny

Chopstick use improving manual dexterity? LOL! That will definitely encourage my sushi addiction! I've had nothing but sushi for lunch ALL week this week!

 

[Smilemaker100]

Scary, I bet I was thinking the same thing 😱 😀 😉 Granted I'm in the middle of a very, very crazy morning here at the office, so anything goes!

Boys will be boys 🙄

 

[DrJeff]

Boys will be boys 🙄

Just give yourself a few more months in private practice and your level of maturity will "join" ours too! 😉 😀

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

After reading the thread on rock climbing and manual dexterity, I thought about starting a new thread.

What happened to good ol' fashioned dental work to improve dental skills? Are some people's hand skills so terrible that they have to resort to origami to help? Musical instruments, rock climbing, playing the rusty trombone...when did people start needing these to improve their hand skills? From now on, if I walk into a dental office and see someone folding a paper crane, I'm walking right out the door...

 

[umkcdds]

how about video games and smoking?

 

[lnn2]

playing the rusty trombone...

are we still talking about the same thing here?! 😀
Practice, practice and practice drilling the only sure, 'ol fashion way to improve manual dexterity. Ask someone with experience/good manual dexterity (upper classmen, friends) for tips about drilling. Stick to that before you go playing the rusty trombone! 😀

 

[lnn2]

how about video games and smoking?

Video games might kill your didactic grades and lung cancer doesn't have anything to do with dentistry!

 

[OMFSCardsFan]

...lung cancer doesn't have anything to do with dentistry!

Down here (Louisiana) it would probably help you relate to your patients.

 

[lnn2]

Down here (Louisiana) it would probably help you relate to your patients.

a budy of mine, a Dental Navy guy, was down there for Navy training. He (Puerto Rican) couldn't understand the people down there. All he could hear was, blah blah Boy blah blah Boy! He said that they couldn't understand him either because of his heavy accent! It took them awhile to be able to understand each others!

 

[Smilemaker100]

Just give yourself a few more months in private practice and your level of maturity will "join" ours too! 😉 😀

I think my sense of sarcasm and sense of humor are certainly increasing. You need to be sarcastic and have a sense of humor to SURVIVE in this profession! LOL! 😉

 

[Smilemaker100]

What happened to good ol' fashioned dental work to improve dental skills? Are some people's hand skills so terrible that they have to resort to origami to help? Musical instruments, rock climbing, playing the rusty trombone...when did people start needing these to improve their hand skills? From now on, if I walk into a dental office and see someone folding a paper crane, I'm walking right out the door...

It's not a question of necessarily improving your manual dexterity skills but more like exercises to keep your hands "in shape".

 

[jk5177]

Nobody mentioned jewelry making.

I can think of model building, typing fast, rock climbing, and etc. For me, what really came to me was writing the whole glycolytic, and citric acid pathways one large piece of paper. The process required some fine writing, even the sharpness of the pencil I was using mattered.

Yeah. That's what made me realized my love to work with hands. Also, I loved model building when I was young, but we could only afford one model, so that's all the model building experience I had.

 

[toofache32]

It's not a question of necessarily improving your manual dexterity skills but more like exercises to keep your hands "in shape".

Is that why my left forearm is bigger than my right?

 

[lnn2]

Is that why my left forearm is bigger than my right?

LOL! so you're a lefty?! Remember, accident happens when you use the wrong hand!