Types of Exercises for Gold Coast Hand Therapy in Robina

Posted by Dr David Graham on January 18th, 2021

Hand therapy plays a crucial role in rehabilitation after a hand injury and elective surgery of the hand. Gold Coast hand therapy Robina is a specialized field of both physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

The hand therapist will supervise the patient's progress carefully, instructing him about specific exercises to perform for the condition of the hand, and make specific casts/ splints that one needs. Hand therapists will also take care of surgical wounds, remove sutures, and provide dressings. It is vital for the patient to attend therapy sessions and strictly adhere to recommended exercises for the best outcomes.

Hand therapy exercises can aid in enhancing dexterity and strength in fingers and hands. They are particularly helpful for enhancing fine motor skills following a neurological event like brain injury or stroke. The exercises also help prevent worsening of conditions such as arthritis. Following are some exercises recommended for hand therapy:

Stretching exercises for paralyzed hands

For such hands, one must begin with passive exercise. This implies using one's unaffected hand to conduct an exercise with the affected hand. This will not only prevent spasticity (muscle stiffness) but also encourage movement in the affected hand.

•  Wrist flexion and extension

Keep forearm on the table. Allow the hand to hang from the side of the table, keeping down the palm. Next, move the hand upwards and downwards, bending at your wrist. After this is completed, repeat with the palm facing upwards.

•  Thumb flexion and extension

Begin with palm open, like signalling number five. Next, practice moving thumb over a little finger, forming number four. Resume moving thumb again and again between these two positions.

•  Stretch of the inner arm

Place hands in lap and interlace fingers. Next, stretch the impacted arm with the palm facing upwards. Feel the stretch upwards till the inner arm. Keep the stretch for 20 seconds and release the arm. Repeat with the other side.

•  Wrist stretches

Keeping fingers interlaced, gently bend the impacted wrist backward, and feel a good stretch in this position. Hold this stretch for 20 seconds and release the hand. Now, repeat the stretch on the other side.

It is crucial to repeat such movements as this is the way one rewires the brain and enhances hand function.

Easy hand exercises at home

One can do some exercises at home easily using some household items. These help to strengthen hand at home:

•  Stacking coins

Collect some loose change and try to stack coins one on top of the other. This will enhance fine motor skills and coordination.

•  Pinching clothespins

One can gently enhance the strength of the fingers by taking clothes pins and trying to pinch those using different fingers. Begin with the index finger and thumb, and then move to the middle finger, ring finger, and pinkie. Make use of the middle finger, index finger, and thumb to form a 'tripod' grip.

•  Play board games

To make things interesting and fun, play some board games such as chess, caroms, or checkers, which need you to practice fine motor skills while moving pieces. The brain will be activated for sequencing, scanning, and decision making.

•  Solve puzzles

Puzzle games are an ideal and fun way to enhance finger and hand coordination.

•  Virtual app for piano playing

Trying to play musical instruments is a great occupational therapy activity. In case one does not have access to an instrument, one can download a virtual piano or guitar playing app and practice on the phone.

When one resumes an activity that one has done before the stroke, the brain will recollect the movement pattern and activate the normal motion of muscles in a natural way.

Hand exercises for physical therapy 

•  Keeping palm upwards and downwards

On a table, place the hand with palm up. Use a non-impacted hand to flip the hand palm down. This enhances the mobility of the wrist and hand. Do this at least 10 times.

•  Bending movement of the wrist

Bend the wrist gently up and down while supporting arm on the table with hand hanging over the edge of the table. This enhances wrist flexibility, which is required for improved hand motion range and hand movement. One must repeat this ten times.

•  Side movement of the wrist

Keeps impacted hand with palm facing downwards upon the table. Use another hand to bend the wrist side to side.

•  Rolling movement

Place a can of soup or bottle filled with water in the impacted hand while keeping the palm side facing upwards on a table. Try to curl one's fingers for grasping a can or bottle and then relax. Such an exercise impacts range of motion and strength of the hand.

•  Curling of wrist

Take a bottle of water and hold it with an impacted hand. Next, attempt to bend the wrist upwards and downwards, keeping the elbow stable on the table. This will help feel akin to a bicep curl for one's wrist. It is a great exercise for strength building.

These are some of the basic types of exercise for Gold Coast hand therapy Robina.