Helpful Hand Therapy Putty Exercises + Free PDF
Hand therapy putty exercises can help you regain strength and dexterity in your hand with a simple, affordable accessory.
Before we dig into the exercises, we will discuss how to get the most of your hand putty exercises.
Getting the Best Results from Hand Putty Exercises
Hand therapy putty exercises are a great way to strengthen hand function and improve mobility.
Sometimes hand weakness is the result of a stroke or other neurological injury. In these instances, it’s important to realize that the goal does not focus on muscle strength as much. Instead, the goal is to strengthen the connection between the brain and the hand.
When a stroke disrupts the brain’s ability to send signals to the hand, rehab exercise helps stimulate healing. The more you exercise your hand, the more you tell the brain there is a demand for that function, and the brain will adapt in response.
This phenomenon is called neuroplasticity: the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself based on experience. When you begin to practice therapy putty exercises on a daily basis, it stimulates the brain and encourages the rewire process.
If you stick with it consistently, these exercises can help improve hand function by encouraging the brain to rewire and heal itself.
Now that you understand the best ways to benefit from hand therapy putty exercises, let’s start moving.
Hand Therapy Putty Exercises to Try at Home
The following therapy putty exercises were created to accompany our therapy putty pack available on Amazon.
Try to accomplish these exercises on a daily basis to encourage strength and recovery.
FREE PDF: Want all of these exercises in a convenient PDF? Download it for free here.
Power Grip
This therapy putty exercise is helpful for all ability levels. Grab your putty and squeeze it using all five fingers, then relax. Repeat this several times for a strengthening and therapeutic effect.
Full Grip
For this hand flexion exercise, roll the putty into a ball and hold it in your palm. Then, press all your fingers except the thumb into the putty. This exercise adds one layer of challenge to the previous exercise by removing the thumb from helping.
Finger Scissors
Roll your putty into a ball and squeeze it between your fingers. Try doing it with all of your fingers to give your hands extra therapy. Squeeze between your index finger and middle finger. Then your middle finger and ring finger. Then your ring finger and little finger.
Finger Spread
Roll the therapy putty out and wrap it around two fingers to form a donut shape. Then, spread your fingers apart. This resistance exercise focuses on extending the muscles that were flexed in the previous exercise.
Fingertip Pinch
Roll your hand therapy putty into a ball and pinch it using your thumb and fingertips. If you have spasticity in your hand that makes it difficult to move each finger individually, press all fingers into the putty at once. As you improve, try to press each finger individually into the putty.
Flat Pinch
Straighten your fingers as best you can, and pinch the putty between your fingers and thumb. This differs from the previous exercise because the fingers remain straight instead of curled, therefore different muscles are being utilized. This is a strengthening hand therapy putty exercise.
Full Finger Spread
Roll the putty out and wrap it around all your fingers to form a circle. Then, spread your fingers apart. This movement targets extension instead of flexion.
Finger Extension
Roll the putty out and wrap it around one finger while the finger is bent. Then, extend (straighten) the finger while using the putty to provide resistance. This is an advanced hand therapy putty exercise. If you struggle with this movement, try again in a few weeks.
Hand Putty Exercises PDF
Want all of these exercises in a convenient little PDF? Download it for free here.
Also, don’t miss out on the other awesome freebie below:
Keep It Going: Download a Free PDF Hand Therapy Exercise Guide!
Do you have this 25 page PDF of beautifully illustrated hand therapy exercises? You don’t want to miss this!
The best way to improve hand mobility after a stroke is to practice hand therapy exercises. Sign up below to get your copy of this free ebook.
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