[VIDEO] Soft Robotic Glove – Vimeo

 

The soft robotic glove under development at the Wyss Institute could one day be an assistive device used for grasping objects, which could help patients suffering from muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), incomplete spinal cord injury, or other hand impairments to regain some daily independence and control of their environment.

This research is partially funded by the National Science Foundation.

For more information, please visit: wyss.harvard.edu/viewpressrelease/200

via Soft Robotic Glove on Vimeo

[Conference paper] Virtual Environments for Motor Fine Skills Rehabilitation with Force Feedback – Abstract+References

Abstract

In this paper, it is proposed an application to stimulate the motor fine skills rehabilitation by using a bilateral system which allows to sense the upper limbs by ways of a device called Leap Motion. This system is implemented through a human-machine interface, which allows to visualize in a virtual environment the feedback forces sent by a hand orthosis which was printed and designed in an innovative way using NinjaFlex material, it is also commanded by four servomotors that eases the full development of the proposed tasks. The patient is involved in an assisted rehabilitation based on therapeutic exercises, which were developed in several environments and classified due to the patient’s motor degree disability. The experimental results show the efficiency of the system which is generated by the human-machine interaction, oriented to develop human fine motor skills.

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Source: Virtual Environments for Motor Fine Skills Rehabilitation with Force Feedback | SpringerLink

[WEB SITE] Fine Motor Skills for Adults – The Ultimate Collaborative List

I am always looking for new fine motor skills ideas, specifically when working with adults. I tend to resort to my “old favorites” that I know work well, along with specific activities that are important to my patients.

But when I am working with a patient long term, where I need to grade the activity or trying to look for activities that are fun and new, I can get stuck.

So I asked 27 Occupational therapists –  What are your favorite fine motor control exercises when working with adults?

Below are the great ideas (and video!) we came up with – read, print and enjoy!

Nuts and bolts, lacing beads, using clothespins to pick up Pom pons to paint or just sort, buttons, zippers, snaps, putting marbles or rubber balls on golf tees, making small balls with putty or play doh, sorting jewelry, squeezing water out of sponges or towels, using different types of tongs to pick up small objects – Paula Bradley

Drawing a picture graded by changing the size of the paper. Bring in different materials stampers, finger paint, etc – Richard Brown

Folding clothes (wash cloths, socks), ADL board (button, zippers bra hooks etc), opening containers (toothpaste, lotion), clothes pins, rainbow rings for crossing midline, velcro board, keys and locks, theraputty, digiflex, beading craft – Jasmine Sohrakoff

My bin of various empty grocery containers is my go-to for FMC to open/close, and having pts reach for them in cabinets/refrigerators/shelves of various heights is one of my favorite GMC activities. – Sarah Stromsdorfer from MyOTSpot.com

I take them straight to the kitchen and do bathroom stuff! I get them to open their make up containers, shampoo/conditioner bottles, wearing weights while organizing shelves in the bathroom and or kitchen…make meatballs, bread, pies for meal prep…opening different containers of milk, using the manual can opener. Sorting dry a bag of dry beans for meal prep…decorating cookies and cupcakes. – India Leah Davis

Theraband activities or squeezing a ball. – Noreena Ishtiaq

 

I had a patient who had a stroke that was a retired banker. I brought in all sorts of coins/dollars he really enjoyed sorting them into various piles, placing them in stacks, etc. – Samantha Kaufman

One easy fine motor activity I really like is to take a piece of paper and using one hand, make it into a ball, then spread it out flat.

Click here to see this exercise in action on the SeniorsFlourish Facebook page. 

But Rachel Hall, had a suggestion to take it one step farther to grade it by starting with the paper on table then raise it up once in the hand so no “cheating.”

My patient cleaned a tray table of shaving cream and told me she liked doing a functional task. – Sharon Leary

Graded puzzles (larger piece sizes to smaller); grooming/hygiene tasks – open/close/apply toothpaste, lotion, lipstick; sort through a purse or bag to retrieve a specified item; pulling out a Kleenex or paper towel; open/close food and kitchen storage containers; buttons and zippers; play checkers or arrange on the board; handle money; turn pages of a book or magazine; pull silverware from a dish rack, separate them, and put into silverware tray; spray and wash a window or mirror; turn faucets on/off or light switches. Anything functional! – Monica Heltemes from Mind-Start.com

I’d love to try origami – Ruby Kopenski

We use a weightwell for strengthening and grip (graded). We also have a woodwork and arts and crafts area at work which enables meaningful engagement. – Charlotte Parry

I like those fleece blankets you tie together… they can give it to someone. One of my ladies was expecting a great granddaughter – so she was able to give her something she made. She was so excited. – Tonya Gladden

Making salt dough and using cookie cutters to make shapes. End product is endless – tags for gifts, place cards, add essential oils to dough and make hanger for closet. Stringing beads for tree decorations at Xmas and Mardi Gras.

Weaving on a simple table loom – make scarves, placemats, etc. Card making with dye cuts. Silkscreening. Puzzles with the pieces hidden in rotini pasta/beans/black eye peas all dry and uncooked. Adult coloring books. – Jane Ryan

Pony bead necklaces and bracelets, flower pens, sorting beans in a weekday pill tray, letting the patient show you how to crochet if you don’t know how, lacing boards. – Natalie Nunyabiz

We removed the line, cleaned, oiled and put a new line on a fishing rod. Box of various nuts and bolts, pennies in piggy bank, placing lots of washers on a long bolt, various locks and keys, buttoning small buttons on a shirt. Have had ladies cut coupons and make cards. – Tammy Lane

Therapy apron which has all sorts of buttons, zips, Velcro, buckles and ties. Even typing or musical instrument playing. – Bec Rourke

I’ll find out their interests. ADL (example: dressing board), IADL (example: cooking, money management like picking coin) or leisure (gardening, word finding-using pen or computer base). – Vicneas Veloo

The game “Topple” is great for fine motor. – TerriAnne Zocco Ragonese

I love to use cards games and board games: checkers, chess, Sorry, Yahtzee, Jenga, BananaGrams, Sour Apples, Chinese Checkers. Jewelry making. Cooking tasks, like that are related to holiday themes and decorating them by hand with candy decorations and frosting bags. napping fresh green beans, teaching some of the basic sign language letters. Working on the computer. Handwriting, letter writing or card writing and have them address the envelopes as well. Crochet/knit/hook rugs. Have women put on make up or do nail care and have them paint their nails. Put together models of cars or even miniture furniture. – Julie Clark Spuhler

I use culturally relevant activity prescription such as cooking. – Jouyin Teoh

Making bread and cookies. Model planes, cars and boats. Lego kits and designs. – Sandy Hanebrink

It’s always fun to bring a nostalgic type of games as long as they understand why were doing the particular task.  jacks, string games (“Cat’s Cradle”), etc. Simple sport games on the Ipad or Iphone like “swim meet” and “tennis.” – Ylisa Gabay Young

I have used woodwork projects and model airplanes – sanded and then painted projects to display in their rooms at the SNF. – Michelle Stoermer

 

If you are looking for a few more activity ideas for your patients, check out Domino Match Game for Patients with Low Level Dementia or Occupation Based Kit Ideas for Your Rehab Department

I’D LOVE TO HEAR WHAT FINE MOTOR ACTIVITIES YOU WOULD ADD TO THE LIST?

<< Visit Site for the Link to free PDF of this ENTIRE list in an easy, quick reference chart organized by fine motor activity type >>

Source: Fine Motor Skills for Adults – The Ultimate List | Seniors Flourish

[iPad App] Tyromotion – Finger(s) in motion

Fingermotion

This professional App was designed for training of your fingerskills on your iPad!

It consists of various courses to be traced with one or multiple fingers. So you can train actively selective finger movements and fine motor skills. Your training success can be shown through direct optical feedback. Try this challenging, but motivating, entirely novel way of hand rehabilitation!

Tyromotion – Creating the future of rehabilitation!

Download the App here

via Tyromotion – Finger(s) in motion.