Functional Home Exercises for Patients with Wrist Instability
Filed under Treatments
Functional Home Exercises for Patients with Wrist Instability
Ever wondered what brushing your teeth, dressing, making a U-turn, and playing sports have in common? They all rely on a stable wrist. Wrist stability is crucial for everyday activities, supporting wrist proprioception, coordination, motor control, stability, and mobility (Wietlisbach, 2019). For patients recovering from a wrist injury or patients with wrist instability , maintaining this stability is essential, but keeping up with home exercises can be challenging without engaging tools.
In the clinic, fun tools like a disc stacker or gyroball can motivate patients during exercises. However, at home, adherence can wane without these tools.
Here are some simple wrist exercises patients can incorporate into their daily routine:
1.) Towel Wiping
- Engage in household chores like cleaning tables or mirrors using a soft towel. This activity provides proprioceptive feedback through weight-bearing and tactile sensory input.
2.) Wrist Stability with a Plate
- Hold a plate with a marble on it in the palm of your hand, keeping your elbow close to your side. The goal is to keep the marble centered on the plate. For increased difficulty, add more marbles. This exercise enhances proprioception, wrist stability, and motor control.
3.) Broom Turning and Gripping
- Before sweeping, practice motor coordination and gripping skills. Hold the broom from the top of its handle, slightly above the floor. Release the broom, then gradually grip lower down the handle without letting it touch the floor. Repeat until reaching the end of the handle. This exercise integrates sensorimotor function into daily activities (IADLs).
These exercises not only support rehabilitation but also encourage patients to integrate their therapy into daily tasks. By incorporating these activities into their routine, patients can improve their wrist instability and overall recovery. As always make sure this is an appropriate exercise based on the stage of rehabilitation that the patient is in.
Wietlisbach, C. (2020). Cooper’s Fundamentals of Hand Therapy, 3rd ed. Elsevier Inc.
More To Read
Handlebar Palsy also known as Ulnar Nerve Compression
Handlebar Palsy also known as Ulnar Nerve Compression Handlebar palsy, also known as ulnar nerve compression, is a condition commonly experienced by cyclists due to prolonged pressure on the ulnar nerve at the wrist in an area called Guyon’s Canal. This pressure can occur from putting pressure on the handlebars or gripping the handlebars tightly. …
Hand Therapy Marketing 101
Marketing 101 – 5 Tips for Your Therapy Clinic Confession: I hate marketing. It’s my least favorite part of my job. It is so hard to open yourself up to that much rejection but still stay positive. It feels like the professional version of blind dating, except the other person probably already has a significant…
What is the incidence of musculoskeletal complaints in the elbow, shoulder, and neck after hand and forearm injuries?
Winiarski, L. M., Livoni, J. D., Madsen, P. V., Rathleff, M. S., & Larsen, P. (2021). Concurrent musculoskeletal complaints in elbows, shoulders, and necks after common hand and forearm injuries or conditions: A cross-sectional study among 600 patients. Journal of hand therapy: official journal of the American Society of Hand Therapists, 34(4), 543–548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jht.2020.05.002 The Skinny: The…
Hand therapy intervention activities for Chemo-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)
Blog Post Written By: Rita Steffes Patients with CIPN may present with symptoms that include numbness, tingling, hypersensitivity to cold, loss of tactile or vibration sensitivity, decreased balance, and shooting burning pain in their hands These symptoms make it difficult for oncology patients to participate in all activities of daily living with dressing, meal preparation,…
Sign-up to Get Updates Straight to Your Inbox!
Sign up with us and we will send you regular blog posts on everything hand therapy, notices every time we upload new videos and tutorials, along with handout, protocols, and other useful information.