HAND THERAPY IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY. WHY IS IT WORTH IT? SAMPLE EXERCISES
Occupational therapy is a form of patient rehabilitation and restoration or maintenance of physical, mental and social fitness. One of the components of this process is hand therapy, during which small motor skills are improved. NEUROPORT Neurological and Senior Rehabilitation Center specializes in occupational therapy. Our facility is staffed by qualified specialists who have tremendous experience in hand therapies.
Many of the manual exercises performed during occupational therapy are part of the upper limb rehabilitation process. The goal of hand therapy is to engage a given body part in performing a variety of tasks to improve its function and perfect precision movements, improve concentration, and work on eye-hand coordination.
HAND THERAPY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Hand dexterity is extremely important for a person in everyday life and determines the quality of life and level of independence. The most common patients requiring rehabilitation of the upper extremities are those following injuries, accidents or strokes. Hand therapy also applies to the elderly, for whom it is important to maintain this dexterity for as long as possible. This is because as we age, the elasticity of connective tissue and its ability to regenerate decreases, and as a consequence, joint cartilage degenerates, which reduces the range of motion in seniors. In addition, the number of muscle fibers decreases, leading to a weakening of muscle strength. Therefore, taking care of the physical condition and maintaining the mobility of joints and muscles is extremely important for maintaining physical fitness and health in the elderly. Hand therapy should be appropriately tailored to the patient depending on their needs and type of condition.
HAND THERAPY - SAMPLE EXERCISES IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
This rehabilitation can be carried out in the occupational therapy room through exercises such as:
- Maintaining dexterity in performing everyday tasks - such as buttoning, tying, threading, greasing a slice of bread, mixing, writing, unscrewing and screwing jars;
- Art activities: drawing with charcoal, pencil, chalk, crayon, coloring a drawing with paints, whole palm, fingers, tear-outs from newspaper, collage;
- Graphomotorics: drawing slides, patterns, calligraphy, mapping, carbon paper
- games and activities: building constructions with different blocks (small, large), playing frisky, making dominoes or houses of cards
- Sensoplastics: crushing plasticine, clay or salt mass, rolling it out with fingers, forming snakes, balls, a snail, crumpling sheets of newspaper into a ball and throwing it into a basket, rolling and unrolling a bandage (first with the fingers of the right hand, then the left), stimulation with materials of different textures (e.g. rough-smooth), felting;
- Eye-hand coordination: threading beads, transferring small objects to containers with tongs, weaving, embroidery, holding a spoon and scooping small objects onto it, such as peas, pouring and pouring water into cups, rolling yarn into a ball.
REHABILITATION CENTER AND PRIVATE SENIOR HOME NEAR POZNAN. TRUST THE PROFESSIONALS
Many of the above-mentioned exercises can be done by yourself at home. Art and manual activities not only improve the range of motion of the hands, but also improve mood and reduce stress levels, which also contribute to diseases. Therefore, far-reaching preventive benefits can be derived from this type of rehabilitation. In recovery, however, it is worthwhile to seek the help of specialists. At Neuroport, we make sure that every patient feels comfortable. We accelerate the process of recovery and fitness, provide support and assistance around the clock. We set standards of care and concern. Trust us.
Justyna Wróż
Art therapist Neurological and Senior Rehabilitation Center Neuroport
References:
1. occupational therapy in musculoskeletal dysfunctions, scientific editor Aneta Bac, PZWL 2018
2. occupational therapy, Ewa Baum, Fraszka Edukacyjna 2008
3 Rehabilitation after stroke, Polly Laidler, PZWL 2014.
