Fine and Gross Motor Central Development

During the evaluation process gross motor coordination of the upper extremities and fine motor coordination or dexterity of the hand is assessed.  The goal is to work on smooth and efficient movements of the upper body to complete daily functional activities.

One Handed Dressing Techniques, Grooming, and Bathing

The therapist will assess an individual’s ability to perform daily activities; dressing, bathing, grooming, hygiene, and feeding tasks. 

The therapist will retrain an individual with specitifc techniques such as one handed dressing techniques to complete each task with or without adaptive equipment.

Training in the use of Adaptive Self Care Equipment

The therapist will provide an individual with adaptive equipment as needed to complete self care activities independently. 

Some examples are as follows: 

sock aide to get on and off socks

reacher to get on/off pants,

Cognitive Skills Development

The therapist will asses an individual’s ability to attend to tasks, ability to remember recent and past events, ability to problem solve, and their orientation to person, place, and time.  

The therapist will work on a variety of functional activities to assist in increasing their cognitive abilities.

Upper Body Strengthening

The therapists will asses an individual’s strength with each separate movement of the upper extremity:  the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand.  The therapist will provide strengthening activities as tolerated to increase and individual’s upper body strength so as to complete task independently. 

Some equipment used for upper body strengthening:  resistance bands/therabands, hand held weights, upper body resistance bike, pulleys and/or manual resistance.

Home Evaluation

The therapist will provide an assessment with an individual at their home to determine safety in the home and make recommendations for any adaptive equipment that may be needed. 

The therapist will asses an individual’s ability to transfer on and off their toilet, transfer in and out of their tub/shower, ability to get into and out of bed, ability to ascend and descend stairs, ability to an maneuver in their home safely, and the ability to safely retrieve items in their cupboards/drawers and kitchen area.