Learning Physical Therapy...Any Ideas...
By twoey68
@twoey68 (13627)
United States
August 11, 2008 6:04pm CST
Well, I started on a new job today sort of. Three times a week I’m supposed to go over and do light therapy on a friend of the family. She’s not able to walk but does have good strength in her arms and legs…meaning she can pull and push pretty well with them. She’s unable to walk or stand by herself. She’s unable to close her hands into a fist.
I learned a few of the therapy positions with her today. Raising and lowering her legs. Having her push her legs against my hands. Raising and lowering her arms and pulling with her hands.
I wonder if anyone has some ideas for some other ones that I could learn with her. Maybe a link to a good site. Or a book that you could recommend. I’m also going to do light massage on her but I already know how to do that. I’m also using clay balls to work on fine motor skills having her pick them up and move them around.
What ideas do you have? Have you ever done this kind of thing before?
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
2 people like this
4 responses
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
12 Aug 08
Hi twoey,
[i]I have not tried that work! I am sure we have members here who are therapist and wish you will get many mote tips from them!
Good Luck and that's a great job, you can help people![/i]
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
12 Aug 08
At my mom's they have the folks do things like putting pegs in holes - helps the fine motor skills too. They have them take clothes pins (the clipping type) off a stiff wire or long dowels to help the motor skills again and hand strength. They have a putty like stuff - kind of like silly putty - that they have beads in that they want to have them take out. They have them kick balls from either seated or standing - depending on their ablilities - and they also bounce balloons between the residents. They some times also have them hand a ball around a circle to help with flexablity - but there they have a number of people not just the 2 of you.
They also have a small ball they sometimes have them put around their bodies so they have to reach back behind themselves - again only if the person already has the flexablity.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
12 Aug 08
when I was in therapy for my shoulders they had me pull on a rubber band ya can get them at the MEdical supply store I think I got mine at therapy different colors different stregthes.
put under foot and tdo side 10 times then front 10 times also there is a ball to roll on if she can that theyt do for the back. Check around the therappy places and see if you can get a print out for different exerscies to do.
@Shaun72 (15959)
• Palatka, Florida
12 Aug 08
They had me take and touch my thumb to each one of my fingerers. Also I did leg lifts to help mr stregethen my legs. I also do exersises with my arms. These exersises where used to make my body stronger since I have fell down a few times since I got diagnosed with ms in 2002. That and having problems with my body shaking. I wish you best of luck on helping this lady out.
