Learning Physical Therapy...Any Ideas...  

I am assuming from your post that you are not a physical or occupational therapist? Have you or she talked to her physician? This could be helpful for two reasons: 1. to make certain you don't do any therapy that could be harmful and 2. to learn some exercises and tasks that would benefit her.

If she is or was seeing a Physical therapist, you can also speak with him or her for instructions on some home therapy. When my aunt had her hip replacement, her doctor gave her a booklet of exercises and from taht we were able to help her do exercises that helped her to get back to where she needed be without trying anythign that could harm her.

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.

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.

Hi twoey,

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!

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.