Wrap your fingers around the putty while keeping the wrist in neutral.Roll your therapy putty into a large ball.This exercise is great for general hand grip strength, since being able to grip something with your entire palm is essential. Push the thumb flat down into the ball toward the knuckles of the other fingers to make a thumbprint. Roll a small piece of putty into a ball and place it under your thumb. You can also focus exclusively on thumb strength with a thumb press. Repeat the entire cycle 10 times for 2-3 sets total.Continue until you have repeated this exercise on every finger.Repeat- this time placing the thumb and middle finger on the putty.Pinch the pads of the thumb and finger together and hold for 1-2 seconds.Place your thumb and pointer finger around the putty.Grab your therapy putty and roll it out into a long thin cylinder on the table.Complete 10 repetitions between each of the three finger web spaces- you can choose to alternate or do all of them at once before moving to the next spaceīeing able to pinch your fingers together without pain and good strength is another essential part of daily hand use.Roll the putty back into a ball and repeat.Squeeze the fingers together to deform the putty ball and hold for 1-2 seconds.Place the putty in between these two fingers and secure it in place.Spread two of your fingers apart while keeping the finger joints in a straight line.Grab a smaller piece of your putty (less than half).This exercise works the finger adductor and abductor muscles, essential for everyday hand function such as gripping and pinching. Here are some of the top exercises for the hands and wrist with therapy putty. Always start with a lighter resistance and progress as tolerated. You can also focus on fine motor skills by burying objects in the putty like marbles or buttons to dig out as well. You can use it for a large variety of finger, wrist, and hand exercises to strengthen, promote circulation, increase dexterity, and reduce pain. There is a lot of versatility that the use of exercise putty can provide. Trouble concentrating or the need to constantly fidget ADHD.Stiffness or weakness of the fingers or wrist.Limited finger or wrist range of motion.Carpal tunnel or any other type of nerve injury.Hand or wrist arthritis (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis).An acute hand, wrist or finger injury such as a joint sprain, muscle strain, or even fracture (once healed and cleared by your doctor).Anyone suffering from the following issues, conditions, or injuries would benefit from consistent use of putty: There are a variety of reasons someone may use therapy putty. Who Can Benefit from Using Therapy Putty? The silicone material is typically odorless and won't leave any residue on your hands. Therapy putty is designed to have as minimum odor as possible, especially since it's a tool that you use with your hands. It's not uncommon for someone to by hypersensitive to scents. One purchase of therapy putty should last you for the entirety of your hand recovery and well beyond. It can be left out or even washed and still retain its functionality for the long term. However, if you accidentally leave it out on occasion you can rest assured that it won’t be ruined. For the best results, always put your therapy putty back in it’s plastic container after each use. Your therapy putty has the potential to last months or even years with the right care. If you have skin allergies always check the ingredients before purchasing, although most options on the market are now latex-free there are still some therapy putty products containing latex. The silicone in this product also helps it last longer without getting grainy or losing its innate elasticity. This makes it safe for almost everyone to use. Most therapy putty is made from nontoxic and odorless silicone. In general, you will start with a lower strength color and gradually progress as your hand strength improves. It comes in a variety of colors that are associated with different resistance levels (typically extra soft, soft, medium, and firm). Additionally, it provides benefits like increased blood flow for healing, optimizing functional hand range of motion, improving fine motor skills, and even stress relief. In the therapy world, therapy putty is used primarily for strengthening the fingers, hands and wrists. Keep reading to learn more about how to use therapy putty. Today, we will dive into what therapy putty is used for, specific exercises you can start, and other practical tips. It can be purchased for home use or you can even make your own. It is used by both physical therapists and occupational therapists alike as a favorite for treating a wide range of injuries and conditions. Therapy putty is a great rehabilitation tool for recovering from finger, hand, and wrist injuries.
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