In sitting with your eyes closed ask a friend/ carer to touch your bare arms. Try to sense and point to which area was touched. Does the feeling vary between your arms and with different locations touched? Are you accurate in sensing the area touched? Repeat the process as often as able.
In a seated position, throw a ball up in the air in front of you and catch it. Ensure you are catching two handed or with your affected arm. Try to control the pace and direction of the throw to keep it close enough to catch. Tip: To make the exercise harder try using a smaller ball or catching one handed.
Position yourself standing up. Practice throwing and catching a ball with both hands.
Standing with your feet shoulder width apart stand with your eyes closed. Gradually try to increase the time to which you can tolerate without having to adjust your feet.
Standing with your feet shoulder width apart on an unstable surface (Cushion, wobble board). Gradually try to increase the time to which you can tolerate without having to adjust your feet. Try to imagine a glass resting on the cushion / wobble board, you are aiming to keep your weight evenly spread so a glass wouldn’t fall over.
Standing with your feet shoulder width apart on an unstable surface (Cushion, wobble board) stand with your eyes closed. Gradually try to increase the time to which you can tolerate without having to adjust your feet.
For this you need to find a high chair, or bed that allows you to sit “perched” on the edge. The idea is that you are in a position that is in-between sitting and standing. This makes standing up easier. Set your self a target of how many of these you want to do in a row and when you are finding it easy you might progress to STS from a normal height chair.
Stand next to a kitchen counter. Hover your hands over the counter, and shift your weight on to your affected leg. Maintain this single leg pose for as long as possible, without use of your hands for balance.
Using a bowl of rice bury small household objects. With your eyes closed dig around and try to pick the objects out. As an extra challenge try to identify the objects before you open your eyes.
Sitting down with your eyes closed, ask a friend to move your strongest arm into a position. With your eyes still closed mirror the same position with your other arm. Keeping your arms in position open your eyes, are your arms held in the same position?
Put some rice or dry beans in a bowl. Using a pair of tweezer try to pick the individual grains up and transfer them to another bowl.
Tip: the smaller the beans are the more difficult it gets
In sitting with your eyes closed ask a friend/ carer to touch your bare arms. Try to sense and point to which area was touched. Does the feeling vary between your arms and with different locations touched? Are you accurate in sensing the area touched? Repeat the process as often as able.
Look around your home and pick a variety of objects with differing textures. Rub them over both the palm and the back of the hand affected by sensory loss, or impairment. Make sure to go over the finger tips and sides of fingers as well. This will help to stimulate sensation messages to the brain. Close your eyes and see if you can guess what is being used. Try textures such as cotton wool, a flannel, velvet, hair brush/comb, tooth brush, a tooth pick, Velcro, fleece, a woollen jumper etc
Select some smallish items from around your house. Put them in a box and cover with a pillow case (this is so you can’t see what you are touching). Reach your hand into the box, without looking and feel for an item. See if you can work out what it is just from how it feels in your hand. Is it heavy or light, smooth or rough? Manipulate it in your hand to try and touch every part of it to help you work out what it could be. Once you think you know the answer, pull it out and see if you are correct! You can make this harder, by putting small items in rice and then feeling around in the rice for the objects and trying to work out what they are before looking.
In a seated position, tie up the laces on both your shoes. Afterwards, untie them again. If it is too difficult to reach down to your feet, you can place some shoes on a table in front of you.
Ask a caregiver when your eyes are closed to place everyday objects one at a time into your hand. Spend several seconds feeling the item, the texture, weight and temperature. Try to guess what the item is. Note down how many you’re able to identify.
You can do this on your own by feeling everyday objects in your affected hand with your eyes closed and concentrating for several seconds on how they feel.
In sitting with your eyes closed ask a caregiver to place a light object into your hand. Try to sense the weight of the object for a few seconds. Next switch to a heavy item, again feel its weight. Repeat the sequence; try to determine which object is heavier.
Sit at a table with some coins laid out in front of you. Stack the coins with your affected hand. Then carefully remove them one by one.
Tip: You can vary the difficulty by using bigger or smaller coins.
Sit a table with two cups, one empty and one with some water in it. Hold the empty cup in your affected hand and the cup with water in the other hand. Pour the water back and forth between the cups, trying to keep both cups steady and not spilling any.
Tip: You can vary the amount of water in the cup to adjust the difficulty.
Take some scrap paper. Practice picking the paper up with your affected hand and arm. Then ripping it into strips. Practice doing it with your affected hand and arm doing the ripping action and then holding it still while the unaffected side does the ripping
Sit in a chair wearing a zip up top or coat. Practice zipping up and down the top. Make sure to completely unzip and unfasten the zip each time.
Sit in a chair wearing a button up shirt. Practice buttoning up and buttoning down the shirt. Make sure buttons go in the correct hole.
Tip: You can vary the difficulty by using shirts with bigger or smaller buttons.
If your dominant hand has been affected. Take a pair of scissors and practice cutting paper. Start by just cutting simple strips, but make it harder by cutting out pictures and shapes to gain better control.
Position yourself at a table, ensure that the plate or chopping board is secure. Using a knife and folk practice cutting up softer items such as a banana or bread and progress to cutting up tougher textures such as toast.
Standing at a flat surface place the palm and fingers of your affected hand on the surface. Complete an activity with your unaffected hand e.g. picking up coins, this will help your affect arm to act as a pivot as a strengthening and stretching exercise.
There are a number of ways of doing this, but it can be quite difficult to feel what you are doing here, so you may want to do this with a top that allows someone to stand behind you and look at what your shoulder blades are doing. They need to give you feedback on whether both sides look the same. Try not to allow the shoulder blade to “wing” or stick out, more than the other side.
Sitting without back support push your fists into the chair either side of you and hold for up to 10 secs. You will feel your shoulder blades drawing down the back.
Standing with your arms out in front of you, palms against the wall. Push into the wall and think about drawing your shoulder blades down your back. If they are poking out you are not doing it right, they should stay relatively flat to your back.
Position yourself sitting at a table with your affected hand flat if possible on a dry cloth/ flannel or small paper bag (for ease of sliding on the table). Move your hand in a circular motion on the table out to the side of your body. Please inform your therapist should you experience any discomfort or pain whilst performing this activity.
Position yourself sitting at a table with your affected hand flat if possible on a dry cloth/ flannel or small paper bag (for ease of sliding on the table).
Slide your hand on the table out to the side away from your body. Aim for a target positioned out to the side of the table to aim for such as some coloured tape on the table or an everyday object such as a heavy book.
Try to keep your back in contact with the chair and avoid leaning forward or to the side.
Tip: You can progress this activity by moving the target further away but within an achievable reach. Please inform your therapist should you experience any discomfort or pain whilst performing this activity.
Position yourself sitting at a table with your affected hand flat if possible on a dry cloth/ flannel or small paper bag (for ease of sliding on the table).
Slide your affected hand on the table out to the side and slide your hand back to your midline. Repeat as instructed by your Therapist. Should your arm become painful stop the exercises and speak to your Therapist.
Tip: Aim for a target within comfortable reach to begin with such as some coloured tape on the table or a book and extend the distance as your reach improves.
Position yourself sitting at a table with your affected hand flat if possible on a dry cloth/ flannel or small paper bag (for ease of sliding on the table).
Keeping your back in contact with the chair, slide your hand forward on the table. Try to straighten your elbow whilst reaching forward.
Try to avoid your hand/arm coming across the table into the middle.
Tip: Position a target such as coloured tape or an everyday object in front to reach to. You can progress this activity by moving the target further away but within an achievable reach to aim for.
Position yourself at a wall or door frame (ensure that surfaces are smooth to avoid snagging your skin).
You want to be within extended reach.
Place your hand flat on either the wall or door frame, running your flat hand up and down. If possible aim for targets by placing coloured tape up high and waist height. Keep your hand flat against the surface throughout.
1st Exercise: Position yourself sitting to a table. Place your flat on the table and open your fingers out and bring them back together again.
2nd Exercise: Sitting to a table keep your wrist on your affected hand in contact with the table and place an empty plastic bottle (for example empty water bottle) near your fingers. Extend your fingers out as straight as you can, try to knock the bottle over.
Repeat as instructed by your Therapist.
In sitting, interlink your fingers and gently bend your wrists back and forth to allow a gentle stretch.
Place your hand flat on the table and gently bend your wrist whilst leaning forward.
TIP: If you notice some active movement in your affected wrist position your wrist over a cylindrical object (i.e. water bottle) and left your wrist up into neutral and beyond if able. You can position a pen or straw on your wrist, hold in place with your unaffected hand and try to aim to touch the pen/straw and aim or this target
Standing at a flat surface place the palm and fingers of your affected hand on the surface. Complete an activity with your unaffected hand e.g. picking up coins, this will help your affect arm to act as a pivot as a strengthening and stretching exercise.
Position yourself close to one edge of your bed sat up at a 90 degree angle. Turn your head about 45 degrees to the Left. Once your head is turned, lie down on your back so your head is slightly extended, but still turned to one side.
Once you get into this position, it is common to experience your vertigo symptoms. Don't worry; your spinning symptoms will pass within 30 to 60 seconds. Stay in position until the spinning stops. Next slowly rotate your head to the opposite side. Your head should be turned about 45 degrees in the opposite direction. Remain on your side for 30 seconds or until spinning subsides, slowly return to the seated position on the edge of your bed. Remain seated for a few minutes to ensure that you are not dizzy before standing up.
Position yourself in the middle of your bed with pillows stacked at the small of your back, sat up at a 90 degree angle. Turn your head about 45 degrees to the Left. Once your head is turned, lie down on your back so your head is slightly extended, but still turned to one side.
Once you get into this position, it is common to experience your vertigo symptoms. Don't worry; your spinning symptoms will pass within 30 to 60 seconds. Stay in position until the spinning stops. Next slowly rotate your head to the opposite side. Your head should be turned about 45 degrees in the opposite direction. Remain on your side for 30 seconds or until spinning subsides, slowly return to the seated position on the edge of your bed. Remain seated for a few minutes to ensure that you are not dizzy before standing up.
Position yourself close to one edge of your bed sat up at a 90 degree angle. Turn your head about 45 degrees to the Right. Once your head is turned, lie down on your back so your head is slightly extended, but still turned to one side.
Once you get into this position, it is common to experience your vertigo symptoms. Don't worry; your spinning symptoms will pass within 30 to 60 seconds. Stay in position until the spinning stops. Next slowly rotate your head to the opposite side but make sure your neck continues to be extended. Your head should be turned about 45 degrees in the opposite direction. Remain on your side for 30 seconds or until spinning subsides, slowly return to the seated position on the edge of your bed. Remain seated for a few minutes to ensure that you are not dizzy before standing up.
Position yourself in the middle of your bed with pillows stacked at the small of your back, sat up at a 90 degree angle. Turn your head about 45 degrees to the Right. Once your head is turned, lie down on your back so your head is slightly extended, but still turned to one side.
Once you get into this position, it is common to experience your vertigo symptoms. Don't worry; your spinning symptoms will pass within 30 to 60 seconds. Stay in position until the spinning stops. Next slowly rotate your head to the opposite side but make sure your neck continues to be extended. Your head should be turned about 45 degrees in the opposite direction. Remain on your side for 30 seconds or until spinning subsides, slowly return to the seated position on the edge of your bed. Remain seated for a few minutes to ensure that you are not dizzy before standing up.
Hold your finger out in front of you or place a business card/paper with X on it onto the wall in front of you at eye height. Rotate your head side to side, keeping your finger in focus. Continue to do this as you take steps forwards, backwards, side to side or with the X placed on a busy background.
Hold your finger out in front of you or place a business card/paper with X on it onto the wall in front of you at eye height. Rotate your head side to side, keeping your finger in focus. Continue to do this for 1 minute without stopping.
Place 2 targets at eye level on a wall, approx. 1m apart.
Stand approximately 1 m away from the wall. Move your eyes to the target on your left whilst keeping your head in neutral. Then move your head to face the same target on your left. Then move your eyes to the target on your right. Once the eyes are fixed on the target, move your head to face the target on your right. Continue to repeat this exercise for up to one minute.
Start walking, as you do so move your head all in all directions (Up, Down, Left and Right) without breaking stride. Try to keep your rhythm and walking pattern.
Start walking, as you do so move your head from left to right without breaking stride. Try to keep your rhythm and walking pattern.
Sit at a table with an unfolded pillow case or towel in front of you. Pick up the corners of the towel, one in each hand, and fold it in half.
Tip: You can increase the difficulty by folding other objects such as t-shirts.
Practice writing using your affected hand. You could sign your name, write about your day, keep or diary of your rehab or copy from books and newspapers if you cannot think of what to write.
Tip: If you wouldn’t usually write with this hand. Don’t expect your writing to be perfect.
Tip: Using a fatter pen will make handwriting easier. You can get comfort grips which also help
Tip: Sign and date all your handwriting practice – this way you will be able to see your progress
As part of your handwriting rehab you can practice tracing around shapes. Larger simpler shapes will be easier than smaller more complex multi sided shapes.
Tip: Using a fatter pen will make handwriting easier. You can get comfort grips which also help.
Try drawing lines, straight lines, vertical, horizontal, diagonal. Now try wavy lines, or zigzags.
Or try writing a line of the same letter joined up and work your way through the alphabet.
Similar to cup waiter:
Sit at a table and mark 4 targets, you could use tape or paper with targets drawn on. Begin with an empty cup on the table and your affected hand in your lap. Reach for the cup, pick it up and move it to one of the targets.
Tip: Try to grab the cup from the side as though you were going to drink from it.
Sitting comfortably at a table, place three Jenga cones in front of you within extended reach. One to the left, right and one in front.
Pick up each and stack on the middle Jenga cone, do the same in reverse.
TIP: Keep your back in contact with the chair to avoid leaning forward, try to avoid leaning to the side, ensure that when reaching your elbows are held out straight.
Sitting comfortably at the table with Jenga blocks within extended reach, practice picking up Jenga blocks and stack.
TIP: Keep you back in contact with the chair to avoid leaning forward. Avoid leaning to the side and try to only use your arm, ensuring that your elbows are held straight.
Position yourself standing with an obstacle on the floor beside you and a table nearby for support. Practice stepping sideways over the obstacle and back again. Ensure that hand support is used only if necessary.
Position yourself standing with obstacles placed on the floor in front of you. Practice stepping forwards one step at a time and then bringing your weight back to the start point.
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart next to a countertop or rail. Mark 4 targets on the floor in front of you. Step your affected leg to the targets then return to your original position. Complete this for each target.
Tip: Vary the targets so that you are stepping left, right, in front and behind.
Take your time to tap your foot to the target, Making sure to be gentle enough to not apply too much weight. During this exercise your arms and back should be unsupported. Tip: Progression would be to move from right to left without touching your foot to the floor, or capping each cup twice.
Sat in a chair with targets (Flat, could be steps, could be cups) Take your time to tap your foot to the target, Making sure to be gentle enough to not apply too much weight. During this exercise your arms and back should be unsupported. You can progress this exercise by aiming to move from right to left, the cross body action will increase the difficulty, or changing the rhythm e.g. two taps per target.
Position yourself standing up. Practice walking backwards, aim to maintain your direction in a straight line.
In a seated position, throw a ball up in the air in front of you and catch it. Ensure you are catching two handed or with your affected arm. Try to control the pace and direction of the throw to keep it close enough to catch. Tip: To make the exercise harder try using a smaller ball or catching one handed.
Position yourself standing with obstacles placed on the floor in front of you. Practice walking forwards zigzagging around the obstacles, without touching them.
Position yourself close to a flat surface you can hold onto if you need it. Aim to place your feet one in front of the other heel to toe as if you were walking on a tight rope. To progress further try to do this backwards.
Start from standing position, as you begin walking bounce the ball on one side, in time with your step on the other side. To progress this activity bounce the ball from one hand to the other as you walk.
Start walking, as you do so move your head from left to right without breaking stride. Try to keep your rhythm and walking pattern.
Start walking, as you do so move your head all in all directions (Up, Down, Left and Right) without breaking stride. Try to keep your rhythm and walking pattern.