STRENGTHENING ACTIVITIES

In order to create increases in the arms and legs as well as the trunk in preparation for physical exercise,

It is advised that you stretch from "top-to-bottom" in order (neck-toward-fingers for your arms, or hip-toward-toes for your legs).

In order to get your legs (muscles, joints, and nervous system) ready for strenuous weight-bearing exercises, it is also advised that you conduct your warm-up stretching routine in a balanced standing position. It is advised that you hang on to something (like a wall or fence) or someone (like your training partner) when performing a warm-up stretch while standing on one leg. This will help you keep your balance and maintain good posture.

The document's stretching routine serves as a bare minimum. Although there are many other ways to stretch and you are free to add or change your own regimen as needed, we advise that you at the very least work the stretches listed below into your practice. Please be aware that the order presented in this paper is "toes-to-head" in orientation.

5 Tips Exercises for the Upper Body

focuses on a range of functional and physical deficits. After injuries like tendinitis, trauma, or stroke, upper-body strengthening is a key part of occupational therapy interventions. Adult occupational therapy strengthening exercises can increase your muscle strength and endurance in addition to conventional weightlifting workouts.

1. Other Advantages of Occupational Therapy

Sometimes, as is frequently the case following a stroke, strengthening exercises fall short of fully restoring function in the upper body. Occupational therapists employ modified tools during therapeutic exercises to help patients practice one-handed methods for carrying out everyday tasks including dressing, cooking, and using a computer.

2. Fine-Motion Exercises

Simple tasks like inserting pegs into holes or twisting nuts onto bolts set on a board will cause your muscles to tire as you initially recover. Your therapist will put you to the test while you perform these exercises by gradually introducing heavier weighted shackles to your wrists. You can increase the amount of time you work without stopping to build up your muscle endurance. In occupational therapy, standing balance exercises and fine motor exercises can be combined to lower the risk of falling while performing functional activities.

3. Test out the Arm Bike

The upper body ergometer, often known as the arm cycle, is frequently a mainstay of upper extremity strengthening exercises for occupational therapy. Your occupational therapist will also utilize an arm bicycle in addition to conventional dumbbell workouts to increase the strength in your arms. Your therapist will start you out with several minutes of arm cycling at a time and gradually increase the intensity by turning up the cycle's resistance or lengthening the interval between rest breaks. It's beneficial to practice this alternating arm motion since it mimics the arm swing that happens as you walk.

4. Play a Little Ball

The act of tossing a ball is typically associated with youngsters. To assist your muscles get stronger, your occupational therapist could employ a modified ball toss. You can first improve your range of motion and foundational strength by tossing a light ball, like a beach ball. As you progress, your therapist might use a heavier ball or weighted wristbands to up the ante on the difficulty. Standing while throwing a medicine ball will enhance your balance and significantly strengthen your entire body.

5. Occupational

As your arm muscles are strengthened, you can begin to participate in more functional tasks. Your therapist may have you fold laundry to further strengthen your muscles. By folding a large item, such as a comforter, your muscles can get stronger. Additionally, your therapist may have you wear weighted cuffs while you sit and fold laundry. Your overall increased muscle strength and endurance will allow you to physically participate in functional life activities such as meal preparation and getting dressed.

Additional difficulties including problem-solving, safety, balance, and direction-following might be targeted by these exercises. You can enjoy the functional consequence linked to the otherwise non-functional duties by understanding the objective of the work your occupational therapist assigns.