A show of hands – who takes their hands for granted?
Yet, without strong, steady and agile hands most ADL’s are compromised. With 27 bones, 29 joints and 120+ ligaments in each hand, patients count on us help their hands function as well as possible. Whether the patient is experiencing pain, incoordination or a compromised grip, and no matter what condition including arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel, MS, ALS, Parkinson’s or a fracture, the OT Toolkit will reinforce your therapy and help your patient regain maximum functionality.
The OT Toolkit includes Exercise Handouts, Educational Handouts and Treatment Guides that address the hand including:
- Fine Motor Activities
- Hand Strengthening Putty Exercises
- Hand Stretching and Active ROM
- Median Nerve Gliding Exercises
- Tendon Gliding Exercises
- Joint Protection
- Superficial Heat
- Superficial Cold
- Edema Control of the Arm
- Handwriting
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain’s Syndrome
- Distal Radius Fracture
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Here’s a sample of the Hand Strengthening Putty Exercises that are included in the OT Toolkit.
Perform the checked exercises _____ time(s) per day, _____ days a week
Repeat _____ times
Perform these exercises with right left both hands (circle one)
Finger Flexion
- Shape the putty into a ball. Squeeze the putty with your whole hand.
Thumb Flexion
- Shape the putty into a ball. Hold the putty in your closed hand. Press your thumb into the putty.
Lateral or Key Pinch
- Shape the putty into a ball. Pinch the putty between your thumb and the side of your index finger.
Lumbrical Pinch
- Shape the putty into a ball. Hold your fingers straight and your knuckles bent. Squeeze the putty between your fingers
and thumb.
Finger Extension
- Flatten the putty into a pancake. Place your fingertips together on the putty and spread the putty outward.
Finger Abduction
- Flatten the putty into a pancake. Spread the putty apart using two fingers at a time.
Finger Adduction
- Reshape the putty into a sausage. Squeeze the putty between the insides of your fingers.
Finger Tip Pinch
- Reshape the putty into a sausage. Pinch the putty between your thumb and each of fingers individually.
