Activities to Increase Thumb MotionFUNCTIONAL HAND ACTIVITIES These directions are intended for home treatment and not as a prescription for use by a professional therapist. Functional Activities to Increase Thumb Motion GOAL. To improve thumb function through activities of gradually increasing difficulty, you should work toward achieving smooth coordinated movement and full active range of motion in the involved joints. Be persistent in doing these activities. Your determination helps assure the greatest possible improvement in the function of your thumb. PRECAUTIONS. Avoid sudden or quick movements. Do not continue these activities to the point of muscle trembling or pain. Rest when your thumb function slows or becomes less accurate. No resistive activities should be done before resistive ones. You will have better results if you do one of the functional activities for the thumb within 1 hour after your daily exercises. ACTIVITIES 1. Pick up small light objects, one at a time, first with the thumb and the index finger, then with the thumb and the middle finger, and so on. Work first with a small ball, then with marbles, then BBs. 2. Flick cards off a deck, holding the deck in the palm of your hand and moving your thumb back and forth across the cards. 3. Roll a ping pong ball in the palm of your hand with your thumb. 4. Twist small jar lids on and off, using thumb and fingertips. 5. Play the piano. Keep your wrist in the neutral position and attempt to reach an octave by stretching and straightening the thumb and fingers. 6. Hold a ball of clay or Theraplast between the pad of the thumb and the pad of the little finger and pinch together. 7. Straighten the thumb while cutting with scissors. 8. Straighten the thumb while cutting tin or cardboard. |
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