Considerations for hemiplegic patients when exercising upper limb function

  Many patients with hemiplegia have more or less misconceptions when exercising upper limb function. Inappropriate exercise methods not only form abnormal patterns, but also make it difficult to correct back after the formation of wrong patterns. Therefore, I would like to make a brief introduction on the exercise method of upper limb function after hemiplegia here.  1. In the early stage, bedside rehabilitation exercises can be started as long as the condition is stable. Crossing your elbows and raising your hands up and down is a very simple and effective way to exercise the shoulder joint. It should be noted that the affected thumb should be placed on the outside of the healthy thumb, and the number of hands raised should be increased gradually according to your condition.  2. After the shoulder joint has some strength, do not rush to lift the hand repeatedly first, which can easily form an abnormal pattern of raising the arm and flexing the elbow. It is recommended to raise the arm straight up over the shoulder in a flat position and maintain the posture. Allow the posture to remain stable before gradually expanding the range of motion of the shoulder joint. Be careful not to flex the elbow while moving the shoulder. Recently, I often find that many family members like to pull the patient’s arm upward, which is a very dangerous action.  3. In recent years, I have seen many patients exercising their hands by pinching bottles, grabbing balls, and finally training their hands to become large fists, which can only be grasped and opened. So in the early exercise hand function is absolutely forbidden to stuff things into the hand to play pinch. Usually can take a more relaxed position lying flat on the bed, the arm straight horizontal abduction 30 degrees, moderate stimulation of the dorsal side of the hand after slowly try to open the hand, if the hand grasp is relatively tight, you can first do the appropriate pulling to relieve the lower spasm.  Finally, upper limb functional exercise is a very professional treatment, it is recommended that patients who have the conditions should go to the hospital as soon as possible to receive formal rehabilitation exercises.