These hand exercises that are therapeutic for patients with strokes can assist in improving your hand-hand coordination. It is essential to engage in some type of hand therapy each day for the most effective outcomes.
The hand exercises listed below are listed in order from the easy (Level 1,) to the most difficult (Level 3,). Patients with strokes who struggle with hand paralysis could begin at Level 1. Other patients can utilize Level 1 to warm-up before moving on to more difficult exercises.
Level 1: Less challenging low frequency hand exercises for stroke rehab patients
If you’re suffering from restricted movements in your hands, or hand paralysis, Hand level 1 exercises are an excellent place to begin.
These exercises can be performed in a passive manner using your non-affected hand to support the hand that is affected. Even though your arm isn’t “doing the work,” the stimulation of passive exercise can still stimulate neuroplasticity.
Consistency is essential for most effective outcomes.
Here are some simple hand exercises that you can practice at your own home:
1. Palm Up and Down
For this exercise that is therapeutic for hands make sure you place your hand palm-down on the table. After that, use your other hand to rotate your palm upwards. Repeat: Palm up, palm down.
2. Wrist Bend Movement
The next exercise is to gently move your wrist.
As you keep your elbow on the table, put your hands that are not affected on the palm, not the fingers to stretch out your hand that is affected. Place it on the wrist.
Then stretch forward and backward. Repeat this exercise slowly, and with an uninjured range.
3. Wrist Side Movement
This is the most advanced hand exercise at the level 1 for those suffering from stroke. It is a new movement for the wrist, but in an opposite direction.
Place your hand that is affected on the table, with your palm on the table. Use your unaffected hand to move your hand to the left and after which you can slide it back to your right. Repeat the process slowly from side to side.
Try these hand exercises every day using high repetition. Regular practice is the best method to stimulate your brain and enhance movement following an accident.
Level 2: Mild to moderate or mid-range hand exercises for stroke patients
The hand exercises listed below are designed for people who have mild spasticity and restricted hand movement.
The best way to gain the hand’s movement is to do these hand exercises on a regular basis. The key is consistency to see outcomes.
Here are some more hand exercises for patients with strokes:
4. Rolling Movement
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To perform this somewhat advanced hand workout, put an empty water bottle in your hand that is affected. Your fingers and hands should remain in a relaxed position.
Your fingers should be curled, and you can hold the bottle of water in your hands. Release them again. Repeat the motion by continuing to close and open your fingers slowly, so that your brain is given time to understand and retrain the movement.
The hand workout is a strength-building exercise that concentrates the wrist muscles.
Level 3: It is a challenging set of exercises for stroke rehab patients.
The hand exercises listed below are designed for stroke patients with normal hand movements and dexterity, but want to increase hand control.
5. Pen Spin
For this more advanced hand workout, place your pen onto the table, and utilize your fingers and thumbs to turn the pen. Place your elbow on the table to avoid the shoulder from moving when you perform this move. Concentrate on isolating your fingers and thumbs.
Try to test your speed during this test. You can spin the pen fast for 15 seconds or attempt spinning it the other way.
6. Finger Curl
To make finger curl exercise most effective, please ensure to touch the tip of your fingers with your thumb.
Start by pinning and releasing by using your index finger, then moving to your middle finger the ring finger and lastly, your small finger.
It’s the same motion that is used in Music Glove hand treatment it’s rehabilitation tool that allows players to exercise while they listen to a tune. It’s scientifically confirmed to aid in improving hand function for stroke patients switching two weeks.
7. Grip and Release
Set a pen on the other edge of your table. Grab it as tight as you can with your hands that are affected. Move the pen across the table, then let it go.
Make sure you grip the pen with care. To emphasize the therapeutic aspect in this practice, apply the minimum amount of force needed for the pen to moved
Repetition by moving the pen back and forth across the table, while keeping your forearm on the table. This will prevent you from using your shoulder for the motion (known in the field of the synergistic motion).
Make sure to only do exercises that require effort but not make you tired.
Few patients who have just recovered from a stroke, ask how to improve grip strength. In this case we would suggest they practice hip strengthening exercises with a good hand gripper.
