Complete Range-of-Motion Exercises—Upper Limbs

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HealthWiki > Disabled Village Children > Chapter 42: Range-of-Motion and Other Exercises > Complete Range-of-Motion Exercises—Upper Limbs

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In this chapter:

 

In this chapter:

Do these exercises slowly and steadily. Never use force, as this could damage a joint.

Do one joint at a time. Hold the limb steady (stabilize it) with one hand just above the joint, and place your other hand below the joint to move the part through its full range of motion. Here we show the basic exercises only. But remember, try to do them in ways that make it fun!

SHOULDER: arm up and down

Stabilize here. Raise arm straight forward, and up.

SHOULDER: arm back and forward
Move arm all the way back,	and then all the way forward over the chest.

SHOULDER: rotation
With elbow bent	turn the arm all the way up,	then all the way down.

SHOULDER: out to side

Raise arm straight out to side.

ELBOW: straighten and bend
Straighten the arm out from the side,	then bend the elbow to bring hand up to shoulder.

FOREARM: twist
Holding the wrist twist the hand up,	and then twist it down (gently).

WRIST: up and down
Bend wrist back,	and then forward.

WRIST: side to side
Bend to outside.	Bend to thumb side. (It will not bend very far to thumb side. Do not force.)

FINGERS: close and open
Make a fist.	Straighten gently.

FINGERS: spread

Spread each finger one at a time.

FINGERS: straighten while bent at hand

Bend here and straighten fingers.

THUMB: for grasping

Bend thumb toward base of little finger.

THUMB: shut and open
Bend the joints of the thumb in all the way,	then open thumb all the way to the side.

THUMB: up and down

down up

Move straightened thumb down and then up, with palm flat and fingers open.

• Drawings are adapted from Home Program Instruction Sheets by Jaeger.

This page was updated:04 Apr 2024