Trick # 2. Try not to touch the client's palm. This may stimulate the hand to close.
Trick # 3. To open the hand, start by bending the wrist slightly 1st. This is how police get people to open their hand to drop a weapon. Bending the wrist relaxes tendons that cross over the wrist before they go to the ends of your fingers.Caution: Aim for a small amount of wrist flexion (see angle in photo). As the tendons relax, the fingers will open slightly so you do not have to pull on fingers curled in a tight fist.
Trick # 4. A fist will relax even further if you straighten the thumb. The thumb has half the muscles in the hand so it is a bully. The trick is to wrap several fingers around the base of the client's thumb rather than pulling with the bony ends of your fingers.
Caution: Overstretching the fingers can damage muscles needed for active movement later on (lumbricals and interossei). Always keep the fingers in a straight line with the palm. DO NOT straighten the fingers like in the photo on the left. 
When stretching the wrist, it is better to aim for partial finger extension so muscles will relax instead of fight you. I can get my wrist all the way back now, but I always keep my fingers in line with my palm (see green arrows). homeafterstroke.blogspot.com
I an huge offender to over stretching my right hand, it is so numb and hard to open up, but it feels so good... I will do a better job now, thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeletethanks this works
ReplyDeleteweight bearing excercises coupled with cimt helps extenion
ReplyDeleteMY MOTHER IS A STROKE VICTIM AND WE WERE TOLD THAT STANDING AT THE KITCHEN SINK WITH HAND/HANDS GRIPPING THE EDGE, THEN PROCEED TO ROCK HIPS LEFT AND RIGHT IN A MOTION OF WEIGHT SHIFTING HELPS TO RECOVER THE WALKING/STANDING DIFFICULTIES. MOM HAD A MASSIVE LEFT SIDED STROKE DUE TO BLOOD CLOT WHICH REMAINS IN HER BRAIN TODAY. ITS BEEN 2 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS AND SHE HAS WENT FROM NO SPEECH(FEEDING TUBE) NO SWALLOWING ABILITIES TO NOW SHE TRANSFERS TO WH. CHAIR ALONE, FOLDS LAUNDRY ONE HANDED AND EVEN CHANGING HER OWN BRIEF( ADULT DIAPER. SHE IS THE STRONGEST WOMAN IVE EVER KNOWN AND SHE WAKES UP EVEY MORNINTG SMILING AND HUMMING A FAV. TUNE SHE REMEMBERS.!! NEVER GIVE UP THE STROKE MAY HAVE GOTTEN YOUR BODY BUT IT CAN NEVER TAKE YOUR SOUL!
ReplyDeleteReading your post made me so happy.
DeleteDo you have any advice of how to quickly get a surgical glove on a hand that has spasticity? The person who asked me this treats patients and said she does not have time to do tone reduction techniques every time she needs to don a glove to work with patients.
ReplyDeleteClients who can be taught the steps listed above can do their own spasticity reduction while waiting to be treated.
ReplyDelete