For many reasons, not everyone can or wants to have to go out or buy expensive therapy equipment to improve hand mobility. Strengthening hand muscles and increasing motor speed can be accomplished from the comfort of your home. Here are several techniques that use items commonly found at home and can be performed each day.

Pinching clothespins

Practically every household has clothespins. Even if you don’t use them to dry clothes, clothespins are commonly used for household tasks such as preventing a bag of chips from becoming stale or as a tool to hold up pictures.

Grab a couple of clothespins and strengthen each finger individually against your thumb. Start with your thumb and index finger and then move through the middle to pinky fingers. Gently practice pinching and opening in short sets daily. Just a few minutes per day can increase your grip and precision and help aid the use of your fingers in more day to day tasks.

Stacking loose change

If you don’t have a catch-all for loose change, check under couch cushions and car mats and in the central console of the car. Or the next time someone gets gas or goes to the grocery store, have them bring back a couple of dollars in coins.

Once you have a handful of change, stack coins on top of each other and practice going from small to large, then try going large to small. A few times per day, just using loose change can help strengthen hand muscles and shouldn’t put too much strain on your fingers or wrists. Do what you can to start and build as it gets more comfortable.

Apps for Hand Recovery

Available for both Android and iPhone, type in ‘hand therapy” or “hand recovery” and see the many different apps that are available to help with hand strengthening and function. Angry Birds, Balloon Frenzy, Hit It are all great apps that focus on hand speed, motor skills, and fun!

Keeping hand therapy fun improves effectiveness, so give popping balloons or speedily beating levels a try. Another great app is Dexteria, which helps with refining motor skills and increasing handwriting readiness for children or those who have had a stroke.

Piecing together a puzzle

Puzzles can be found online in most book stores, libraries, and thrift stores. If you’re not able to get out of the house to buy one, try purchasing one from your favorite online seller. Puzzles are great for hand and cognitive therapy. The key is not to overwhelm yourself or your loved one. Try small puzzles like less than 50 pieces to start and build from there. Therapy should always be encouraging and helpful and not feel like it’s a giant uphill battle. Once you finish each puzzle, snap a picture and remember the excellent job you did and keep going!

Playing board games

We love social options that help with hand mobility. It’s not always available to everyone, but if you’re able, grab a friend and play chess or checkers.

If the competitive games aren’t for you, The Game of Life is mostly chance, including spinning a dial, moving pieces, exchanging money, and adding family members to your tiny car. It’s fun and helpful for motor skills and hand strengthening.

For those who have some hand function and movement, using everyday household items can improve hand recovery and mobility without even leaving home. Hopefully, you find these at-home hand therapy options helpful for you or your loved one.

If you are looking for occupational or physical therapy, vestibular rehab, wheelchair training, learning to walk, unweighting aquatic therapy, or other services in the Phoenix area, please call Touchstone Rehabilitation at 602-277-1073.