Regaining hand and upper body strength allows people to regain full, functional use of the arms. If the hands are weak, people can struggle with activities such as opening jars or water bottles, picking up a gallon of milk, lifting a child, turning a doorknob or a key. Therapists use a variety of exercises techniques to increase strength and promote muscular and postural balance including:
isometric - the muscle actively being held at the same length
concentric - the muscle actively shortening
eccentric - the muscle actively lengthening
Depending upon the type of injury, the time-frame of recovery, and pain levels, therapists can safely provide a program that strengthens both the large and small muscle groups of the hand as well as the larger arm muscles.