Hand Therapy. Video production part two.

This weeks task has been to : Find five different sources of online video content that help explain, demonstrate, or provide personal experiences of your topic.These videos had to relate to one of our fieldwork experiences.


On my very first placement i was placed in a rehabilitation center for patients with severe arthritis and other chronic diseases.
One of the most interesting experiences i had during this placement was taking part in the hand therapy class. This class helped patients with stretches for range of movement and muscles strengthening exercises for their wrist and hands. There were a number of these classes where the patients were showed a different tool and or stretches, the patients joined in the classes and completed the exercises with the OT.
The patients had an overall positive attitude after this particular class as the exercises were something that could help them manage their hands and continue with at home. 


One of the first hand therapy sessions was to show patients the type of equipment they could purchase to take home that would assist in stretching and strengthening. This first video is a short one showing Therapeutic putty and a couple of stretches that can be done using it. There are a large number of exercises that can be done using the putty which comes in different resistances. 

This second video has the same concept as the therapeutic Putty using similar exercises but are completed with a ball instead. 

Another interesting exercise idea for hands that i was showed on fieldwork was the use of American Sign Language alphabet. Each letter creates a different shape with the hand and stretches the muscles and joints in different ways. 
This video is a fun little song showing the letters and the hand shapes of the alphabet. 

This next video is a lady showing hand exercises but in a way that makes you feel like you are watching a yoga or pilates clip.  Its slightly longer than the other clips but worth a watch. I have to admit i joined in and copied her when i watched this clip. 

There are a number of other ways to stretch and strengthen the hand such as useing husehold items but unfortunatly i could not find any videos of these.
The last video i did find and found interesting is of a man that has had a hand transplant and this is him during a therapy session. you can see he does not have full range back in his joint yet but that the transplant has been a sucess. 

 I feel that hand therapy is an important part of an OT's role as the hands are a main part in taking part in a large amount of occupations. If we all can understand a little bit about how hand therapy works and how people can be effected if they cannot use their hands then it may be easier for us to help our clients in the long run.

Hope you enjoy these videos guys.


K. x