Mason Ellis, a C5-7 quadriplegic, has found a couple of exercises to train and strengthen hand, wrist, and finger function, and can now pick things up or hold on to things. He demonstrates these exercises in this video below:
Using resistive hand exercise therapy putty kit
The kit comes in a set of four putties, each of them a different color and a different resistance – yellow putty for extra soft, red putty for soft, green putty for medium, and blue putty for firm. One set was not enough for him to “get a full effect,” so he bought two sets and combined each respective color together.
Before you start, you have to get the putty out of the plastic containers they come in. As Mason has good wrist flexor muscles, he uses the knuckle of the thumb to hold the container against his waist area. Then, he takes the other hand, pinches the lid between his thumb and index finger, and pushes it up while continuously rotating the container. Usually, the putty sticks to the lid when it comes undone. If it doesn’t, squeeze both sides of the container, and continue doing so while rotating the container around to loosen the putty up from the sides. Once it’s loose, turn the container over to knock it out.
Also, the softer the putty is, the easier it is to stick to objects.
To work the putty, bend one wrist downwards and put the putty in your fingers. Then, bring your wrist up, and the putty should be in your hand. Next, bend your wrist up and extend your wrist. With the other hand, take the putty out, and it should have expanded in length. Then, bring your wrist down again, and put the putty in your fingers length-wise, and repeat the motions continuously for both hands. If the putty becomes round again, press it between both wrists to flatten it out.
If you find difficulties with working the putty, have patience! Mason, too, admits that the yellow putty was initially difficult for him. But he persevered on and continued working his way up to the blue putty.
“Now I’m all the way up to the blue, which at the time the blue seemed pretty much impossible. But now I can do it with ease.”
Another exercise you can do for finger strengthening is by tearing off a small piece of the putty. Mason recommends tearing from the harder putties, such as the blue, because it’s easier and less stringy than the softer ones. Next, roll it into a ball-like or cube-like shape. Then, place it on your index finger (pictured right) and push your thumb down on it. This way, you are working the strength in your thumb.
Hopefully these exercises are helpful in strengthening your hand and finger muscles!