Upper Extremity

10 Upper Extremity

Client position: Seated upright with back supported
Care partner position: Standing in front or behind
Instructions: Care partner place open hands just under collar bones. Slowly guide shoulders back into an “upright posture” being careful to avoid pressure on bony prominences.
Hold for 30-60 seconds

Client position: Seated upright with back supported
Care partner position: Standing in front or behind
Instructions: Care partner place open hands on each upper arm. Slowly guide shoulders upward towards the client’s ears.
Hold for 30-60 seconds

Client position: Seated upright with back supported
Care partner position: Standing on either side of client
Instructions: Have client bend elbow to 90 degrees, stabilize shoulder joint, gently guide hand away from midline of body.
Hold for 30-60 seconds

Position Option #1:

Client position: Seated upright with back supported
Care partner position: Standing on either side of the client
Instructions: Guide client’s arm forward as far as you can toward the ceiling, ensuring their thumb is facing upwards
Hold for 30-60 seconds.

Position Option #2

Client position: Lying on back
Care partner position: Seated or standing on either side of the client
Instructions: Guide the client’s hand over their head as far as you can, ensuring their thumb is facing the ceiling
Hold for 30-60 seconds

Client position: Seated upright with back supported
Care partner position: standing behind client slightly to either side
Instructions: Place one hand on client’s shoulder to stabilize, grasp client’s hand or wrist keeping their thumb toward the ceiling, slowly guide arm up while maintaining upright posture. If needed, the care partner can use stabilizing arm to help lift arm.
Hold for 30-60 seconds

Client position: Seated upright with back supported
Care partner position: Standing or sitting on either side of client
Instructions: Stabilizing at the upper arm with one hand, grasp client’s hand or wrist with the other hand. Slowly bend at the elbow bringing client’s hand towards their shoulder. Then, slowly straighten client’s elbow.
Hold each position for 30-60 seconds.

Client position: Seated upright with arm supported
Care partner position: Seated or standing on either side of client
Instructions: Place one hand on middle of forearm and one hand on wrist, slowly guide forearm, wrist, and hand from “palms up” to “palms down” position.
Hold each for 10-15 seconds, alternating for 4 repetitions

Client position: Seated upright with arm supported
Care partner position: Seated in front of the client
Instructions (Flexion): Place one hand on the top of their hand and other on the forearm just above the wrist. Gently bend the wrist downward so their fingers point toward the floor. Go slowly until you feel a natural resistance, or the client feels a light stretch on the top of their wrist.
Instructions (Extension): Place one hand at the base of their palm and other on the forearm just above the wrist. Gently bend the wrist upward so their fingers point toward the ceiling. Go slowly until you feel a natural resistance, or the client feels a light stretch on the underside of their wrist.
Hold for 30-60 seconds

Client position: Seated upright with arm supported
Care partner position: Seated or standing next to or in front of client
Instructions: While keeping the wrist straight, slowly bend the fingers into a tight fist and then straighten the fingers
Hold each for 10-15 seconds, alternating for 4 repetitions