Occupational Therapy for Hand, Wrist & Fine Motor Skills PDF

Occupational Therapy for Hand, Wrist and Fine motor skills conditions  Introduction  Hand function  Fine motor skills function  Most common Problems in hand and wrist function  Occupational Therapy Interventions Introduction  Hand and wrist injuries are a common occurrence, est...

Occupational Therapy for Hand, Wrist and Fine motor skills conditions  Introduction  Hand function  Fine motor skills function  Most common Problems in hand and wrist function  Occupational Therapy Interventions Introduction  Hand and wrist injuries are a common occurrence, estimated to account for between 10% and 30% of all emergency department presentations.  Most uncomplicated injuries will recover fully, however, accurate assessment and treatment are vital as mismanagement can result in a delayed recovery and is associated with large individual and societal costs.  Occupational therapists are key health care practitioners in assessing and treating people with an upper limb condition, as occupational therapy’s primary goal is to facilitate adjustments to lifestyle and to prevent loss of function. Hand function Hand function including:  Grip strength: the force created by the hand for holding objects securely.  Dexterity: the skillful use of the fingers for complicated tasks.  Bilateral coordination: using both hands together, such as one hand stabilizing While the other manipulates. Fine motor skills function These involve the use of small muscles in the hand and fingers to perform tasks such as:  Grasping and manipulating objects: picking up small items or writing.  Hand-eye coordination: integration visual information with hand movements, important for tasks like drawing.  Precision tasks: Activities that require accuracy, such as Buttoning shirts or cutting with scissors.  Most common Problems in hand and wrist function 1.Reduced strength: Weak grip: Difficulty holding or manipulating objects. Fatigue: Quick exhaustion during tasks requiring hand use. 2.Decreased/ Limited range of motion: Joint stiffness: Limitation in bending or straightening fingers and wrists. Contractures : shortened muscles or tendons that restrict movement. 3.Poor Dexterity: Inability to perform fine motor task: Difficulty with activates like buttoning, writing or utensils. Clumsiness: Lack of precision when manipulating small objects. 4. Impaired Coordination: Bilateral coordination issues: Difficulty using both hands together effectively Hand-eye Coordination problems: Challenges integrating visual information with hand movements 5.Sensory Deficits: Decreased Tactile sensitivity: reduces ability to feel textures, which affects grip and manipulation. Proprioceptive issues: Difficulty knowing where the hands are in space, impacting control during tasks. 6.Pain or discomfort: Chronic pain : Conditions like arthritis can lead to pain during movements Post-surgical pain: Discomfort after injuries or surgeries can limit function 7.Injury or Trauma: Fractures: bone breaks can lead to long-term functional issues. Tendon or Nerve injuries: can affect movement and sensation. 8.Neurological conditions: Stroke: can cause weakness or paralysis in one side of the body. Cerebral palsy: Affects muscle control and coordination. 9.psycho-social factors: Motivation and confidence issues: Fear of using the hands can delay progress.  Occupational Therapy Interventions Occupational therapy for hand function focuses on improving the ability to use hands effectively for daily activates. Assessment Evaluation of hand function: Assess strength, range of motion, dexterity and coordination. Identifying Goals: collaborate with patients to set specific, measurable objectives related to their daily tasks and activates. Intervention 1.Strengthening exercises: Therapy putty: Squeezing and stretching to improve grip strength. Hand Grippers: tools to enhance overall hand strength. 2.Dexterity activates: Manipulative Tasks: Beading, threading or building blocks to improve fine motor skills. Precision Tools: Using Tweezers and scissors for target practice. 3.Coordination and bilateral activities: Two-Handed Tasks: Activities that require the use of both hands like folding papers or playing catch Fine motor games: Activates like Stacking cups 4.Adaptive Techniques and tools: Ergonomic tools: modifying utensils o writing instruments to make tasks easier. Assistive Devices: tools that provide support such as Writing grip or specialized keyboard. 5.Task Modification : Breaking down Tasks: simplifying activates into smaller Steps to promote success. Gradual Progression: Increasing the complexity of tasks as skills improve Educating and training Patient education: teaching patients about hand positioning, posture and techniques to prevent strain. Family Involvement: involving caregivers in therapy to reinforce skills at home THANK YOU