![]() Keeping your hand flat, roll the putty back and forth, until it makes a long “hot dog” shape.Remove the softest putty from the container.Works on: finger extensions, range of motion in your elbows and forearms Therapy Putty Exercise 1: Roll With Flat Hand Talk to your physical therapist or another RA healthcare provider before you begin or for other exercises geared especially for you. Therapy Putty Exercises for People With Rheumatoid ArthritisĮxperts say there is a wide range of hand exercises people with RA can do with putty to feel better and perhaps improve function. When you take it out, it will be a little firmer until it warms up. If you feel like you need something stronger, chill the putty in the refrigerator. Perry recommends that people with rheumatoid arthritis go no higher than medium resistance, to avoid triggering joint flares. After a few times, if you still feel good, you can go to the next grade up. If you develop pain or stiffness, go back to the softer one,” Perry says. After a few times, you can move up to the next strength level. You’ll want to start with the softest putty to work your joint range of motion. Choose the Correct Therapy Putty Firmness The American Stroke Foundation provides a video instruction for how to do this. Ingredients include white glue, cornstarch, borax, hot water, and food coloring. You can make your own putty if you don’t want to buy it. And don’t store the putty in a hot car, as it will turn to liquid. Be careful to return the putty to its container as soon as you finish, since carpet or clothing fibers may not wash out. One set of putty can last for years, since it doesn’t dry out like play putties do, but if you don’t use it carefully it can pick up specks of dirt or sand that make it unpleasant to use. You can buy therapy putty in medical supply stores or purchase it online, often in packs of four to six strengths. Once you’ve improved the range, you can use slightly firmer putties to increase hand strength - important for everything from lifting objects to holding a full mug of morning coffee. RELATED: 8 Hand Exercises for Rheumatoid Arthritis “Range of motion is important for function, from being able to open your hand enough not to get it caught on your shirt sleeve to closed enough so you can button your coat,” Perry says. The softest therapy putties are useful for improving the range of motion in your joints. Putty Can Help Improve Muscle Strength, Range of Motion in Joint You can also break each putty into smaller pieces to use for isometric exercises, says Genie Lieberman, the director of the Gloria Drummond Physical Rehabilitation Institute at the Boca Raton Regional Hospital in Florida. The softest may be the color yellow, for example, while a slightly firmer might be green. Therapy putty comes in a range of strengths, from extra soft to extra firm (each package comes in three to five strengths, depending on the brand), so you can put as much or as little resistance on your joints as you want.Įach strength is color coded. Customize Hand Work With Different Putty Resistance Levels ![]() “If not used correctly it can lead to more problems with the hand,” she says.Īlso, if pain increases from its use, you should stop using it, she says. RELATED: I Tried HoMedics ParaSpa Plus Paraffin Bath for My Arthritis and It Really Helpedīefore beginning, it’s important to check with a hand therapist to be sure therapy putty is right for you, Perry says. You can work with it as gently or aggressively as you want,” Perry observes. “The nice thing about therapy putty is you don’t have to squeeze it really hard for it to give. Because it's pliable, you can work to your full range of motion when you squeeze. You can roll it, squeeze it, and pinch it. The advantage of therapy putty over other hand-enhancing tools, such as a stress ball, is that it’s so malleable. “It’s a great tool for people with rheumatoid arthritis to also use at home.” How Occupational Therapy Putty Can Help Hand and Finger Muscles “We regularly use therapy putty in our clinic," says Roxanne Perry, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist in Armonk, New York. In conjunction with RA medication, therapy putty exercises can help reduce symptoms and improve hand function. RELATED: 8 Hacks That Can Help Rheumatoid Arthritis Hand Pain This special putty provides resistance and also can make exercising fun. One tool occupational therapists often use with RA patients is therapy putty. Overall hand function improved more in the exercise group, as the scientists reported in March 2015 in Health Technology Assessment. Researchers across England split 500 RA patients into groups, one that received an exercise program for the hands and arms done with a therapist and at home, and another that received the usual care. They can increase flexibility, range of motion, dexterity, and grip strength. Hand exercises can be helpful for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |