Hand Therapy
Hand Therapy is aimed at improving the so-called small motor skills, i.e. precise movements of the hands and fingers, as well as providing tactile sensations and learning through them different shapes, structures of materials and acquiring the ability to distinguish between them.
First and foremost, however, it serves to achieve independence in basic activities of daily living. The development of small motor skills is included in the child’s overall psychomotor development and runs parallel to the child’s overall development. The term mainly refers to activities involving the use of fingers and hands, as well as the coordination of these activities with the help of vision. The basic skills developed during the improvement of fine motor skills are: controlled movements of the hands and fingers grasping objects with one hand without assistance manipulating an object to perform a task coordinated use of both hands
Purpose of hand therapy:
- Supporting precise hand movements,
- Improving grip skills,
- Learning the ability to focus attention, to look,
- concentration enhancement
- improving eye-hand coordination
- crossing the centerline of the body
For whom hand therapy:
- Children who have markedly reduced or increased muscle tension in the upper limb and shoulder girdle,
- Children who are reluctant to engage in manual activities (painting, plasticine sticking, arranging small objects),
- Children who have problems with learning activities of daily self-care (dressing, tying shoelaces, fastening buttons, etc.),
- Children who have problems with coordination of both hands during manipulative activities,
- Children performing activities requiring high precision too slowly or too quickly and carelessly,
- Children who do not like to touch new and diverse textures.
