Theraputty Exercises - OSF Library

Theraputty ExercisesOccupational Therapy DepartmentDate:_____________________Patient’s Name:___________________________________________________1. FULL GRIPSqueeze putty with the fingers against the palmof the hand in a kneading motion…rolling it overand around in the hand while exerting as muchpressure as possible against the resistanceof the putty.2. FINGERS ONLYPlace the putty at the base if the fingers and squeezewith fingertips while keeping the palm of the handopen. After the fingers have pressed into the putty,fold over and repeat.3. THUMB PRESSForm putty into a barrel shape and place in palmof hand. Press thumb into the putty with asmuch force as possible until the thumb haspressed through to the palm. Reform and repeat.4. FINGER DIGPlace putty in the palm of the hand and dig thefingers into the putty until they press through tothe palm of the hand and form a fully clenched fist.Release the fingers, roll the putty over to reshapeand repeat.

Theraputty ExercisesOccupational Therapy DepartmentDate:_____________________Patient’s Name:___________________________________________________5. FINGER EXTENSIONSBend one finger into the palm of hand. Wrap puttyover tip of finger. While holding the putty with theother hand extend finger to a fully opened positionwith as much forces as possible. The degree ofresistance is controlled by the thickness of the puttyheld over the fingertip. Repeat with each finger.6. THUMB EXTENSIONWrap putty over the tip of thumb while it is benttoward palm of hand. Hold the loose ends down andextend the thumb to an open position with as muchforce as possible. Control the degree of resistanceby the thickness of the putty held over the thumb tip.7. FINGER SPREADForm putty into a thick pancake shape. Placeon table top or mold over the tips of fingers whilethey are bunched together, then spread out fingerswith as much force as possible.8. FINGER SCISSORForm putty into the shape of a ball and placebetween two fingers and squeeze them together in ascissor like motion. Repeat with each pair of fingers.

Theraputty ExercisesOccupational Therapy DepartmentDate:_____________________Patient’s Name:___________________________________________________9. SCISSOR SPREADWrap putty around tops of two fingers while theyare closed together, then spread the fingers apartwith as much forces as possible. Repeat with eachpair of fingers.10. FINGER PINCHForm putty into the shape of a ball. Pinch betweenthe fingertips and the thumb until the fingers pressthrough the putty. This can also be done with eachfinger separately and the thumb. Reformthe ball shape and repeat.11. WRIST ROTATIONGrip putty tightly in the hand. Rotate the wrist ina circular motion, first in one direction, then in theopposite direction, while pressing into the putty withas much force as possible.12. WRIST EXTENSIONRest the forearm on a table or arm of a chair allowingthe wrist to hang down over the edge. Grip the puttywith the fingertips while holding in place with theother hand. Raise wrist up to its full extension withas much force possible.Killingworth, A.D. & Pedretti, L.W. (2006) Chapter 21. Evaluation of muscle strength. In. H.M. Pendleton & W. Schultz-Krohn (eds). Pedretti’s Occupational therapy:Practice skills for physical dysfunction (6th ed. pp. 469-512). St. Louis: Mosby, Inc.