Ball work for rehabilitation
The balls for rehabilitation Are the main tools to address the different pathologies that we meet daily in the physiotherapy consultation. Its benefits have been demonstrated at a neurological, physiological and functional level, both in the treatment and prevention of the disease.
For rehab ball exercise to be effective:
- It must be prescribed by a professional for its correct execution. These are specific, personalized and guided exercises.
- The load and repetitions must be controlled and adjusted as the patient recovers his functionality.
- The therapist based on the initial interview and examination should also take charge of adapting the exercise to the posture, other health problems, the functional environment, etc.
All this will allow a good readjustment of the patient to the activity he performed before the injury (be it sports, his work activity ...)
Also at home
An important point when performing an exercise regimen with balls for rehabilitation It will be to include easy exercises in the routine of patients so that they can perform them at home (simple and take little time). For the therapy to be effective the patient must be constantWhat's more, many of the exercises can be continued for several months after discharge to complete the recovery process. The benefits of exercise are appreciated in the medium and long term and not immediately, so the patient must also become aware and be consistent.
Materials for therapeutic exercise
There is an infinity of different materials and instruments to perform physical therapy; balls for rehabilitation of different sizes and textures, rubber bands, putty, balance boards, rings, etc ... Instruments can be improvised with everyday items such as clothespins, bottles, paper, towels. However, the balls seem to be the star object, different sizes, hard, soft, with textures, etc. They are the most used material because it is also the most versatile and easy to get.
For example, a tennis ball can be used to relax the plantar fascia to relieve back contractures. Regarding the rehabilitation of the upper limb, such as the hand, Balls type ‘’ anti-stress ’’ are the most frequently used.
Traumatologists, Physical Therapists, or Occupational Therapists They recommend daily rehabilitation balls to exercise the muscles of the hand and forearm to patients who suffer muscle weakness and lack of motor control due to immobilization, fractures, osteoarthritis, arthritis, etc., since it is an easy exercise to perform practically anywhere. Check the medical chart of insurance where you will find the best rehabilitation specialists.
What is the purpose of balls for hand rehabilitation?
We must not confuse that it is a comfortable or easy exercise to perform, but not the solution to the problem: squeezing a ball with the affected hand is not the treatment of the pathology or injury, it simply belongs to a small part of the specific exercise guideline and complete that must be done on a daily basis. Therefore, What is the intention of squeezing the ball? The objective is to introduce the closing movement of the fist of the hand, thus activating the muscles of the hand, in addition to working in part on the force thanks to the resistance offered by the ball when closing the fist. However, it is a very unspecific exercise, so therapy cannot be based on its performance to gain strength, motor control and mobility.
The rehabilitation of the hand is much more complexOther structures should be considered and more specific methods used, such as, for example, the intrinsic muscles of the hand, since these are very small muscles and require very specific stimuli for their activation.
What movements should be exercised during hand rehabilitation?
During an injury, inflammation and immobilization limit joint mobility causing blockages, as well as muscle weakness, loss of strength and elasticity of the extrinsic and intrinsic muscles of the hand. For this they must guide exercises based on the affected movements of the hand:
- Flexo-extension.
- Pronation-supination (turning the wrist).
- Abduction and adduction (lateral movement of the hand).
- Mobilization of the fingers (flexion-extension of the phalanges).
- Separate and join the fingers.
- Opposition of the thumb (gesture of making the pincer with the thumb).
- Close and open your hand.
Passive, self-assisted and active exercises.
They are the ones that we can find in a rehabilitation regimen, always adapted to the needs of the patient and the pathology or injury present, which abound in consultation:
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Osteoarthritis
- Fractures: phalanges, metacarpus, scaphoid, radius-ulna ...
- Dislocations.
- Tendinopathies of the carpal flexors or extensors.
For how long and how often should the exercises be performed?
There are few scientific studies that indicate the exact time and frequency of exercises for each pathology, so the guidelines are based on the experience of the therapists regarding the evolution of the patients. Are recommended short sessions with light intensity once the inflammatory process has diminished or disappeared. Sessions should be performed several times a day, including passive, active-assisted, and active movement exercises. subject to patient tolerance. Some studies recommend 10 repetitions of each exercise per day.
To conclude, the main therapeutic objective to regain optimal functionality of the hand is the realization of personalized and specific programs of exercises with balls for rehabilitation that improve joint mobility and strengthen the different muscle groups related to limb movement. Educating the patient to carry out the exercises actively and autonomously is essential for his own recovery, and the therapist must give him the necessary support so that he takes responsibility for it.
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- There are many materials and instruments, but the balls seem to be the star object. They come in different sizes, hard, soft, with textures, etc. They are the most used material because it is also the most versatile and easy to get.
- It must be clear that squeeze a ball with your hand affects does not constitute the treatment of the pathology or injury, it simply belongs to a small part of the exercise regimen specific and complete that must be done on a daily basis.
- An important point when carrying out an exercise regimen will be to include in routine of patients easy exercises so that they can perform them at home (simple and take little time).
yasmina Santiago
(Updated at Apr 13 / 2024)