I'm not a physical therapist, physician, or other health care professional. What follows is not advice, but simply what worked for me. I ride horseback (closed fist, lots of arm/wrist strength), work on computers (lots of manual dexterity in a fixed hand/arm position), and play guitar, recorder, pennywhistle and flute (manual dexterity, strength, and arm movement). I'm left-handed, and was starting to experience hand/arm stiffness and discomfort when I started doing all this about a year ago.

Every day, twice a day, I do a full set of range-of-motion stretches for both arms and hands. Do them slowly and gently, do not "bounce" on the stretch, and only hold each stretch for about 2-4 seconds.

I adapted these stretches from: some I do on horseback to keep me loose, some I learned in a 6-week beginners' aikido course, and some I picked up from a webpage on how to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. I find if I miss a day, my hands are VERY stiff and curled when I wake in the morning. No pain, but not much range-of-motion either.

1) With arm and fingers fully extended, grasp hand of extended arm at the "fist" knuckles, and gently flex the back of the hand and fingers back toward the forearm. Hold steady for 2-4 seconds, and gently relax. Repeat 4 times. Switch arms and repeat.

2) With arm fully extended, make a fist. Grasp the fist and gently, keeping the fist closed, gently flex the fist forward toward the wrist. Hold steady for 2-4 seconds, and gently relax. Repeat 4 times. Switch arms and repeat.

3) Standing straight and comfortably relaxed, take a dish/hand towel in one hand, and drape it over the shoulder of that arm. Reach behind you with the other hand, and grasp the other end of the towel. Gently pull up on the towel. Hold for 2-4 seconds, and gently relax. Repeat 4 times. Switch arms and repeat.

4) With arms straight out in front of you, palms down, extend your fingers. Curl your fingers into "claws" at the second joint, while holding hands flat. Curl fingers into fists. Hold each position about 2 seconds, then go to next position. Repeat 4 times.

5) Slowly, alternating each arm, make an underhanded circle from the shoulder of each arm. (as if you're pitching a softball, but continue up and around). Repeat 4 times.

The whole rigamarole takes me about 3 minutes in the bathroom every morning and night.

Just my $0.02, FWIW. Your mileage may vary.

V