The aim of Manual Therapy is to improve fine motor and arm function, to develop or restore physiological functions of the arms and hands, to increase reduced range of motion, to relax stiff, tight muscles, to reduce abnormal hand posture, to develop precise hand and finger movements, and to teach activities that will help the patient to become more independent and autonomous in their daily life. It is important that arms and hands play an essential role in everyday self-care. In case of severely and multiply disabled patients, besides neurological or other diseases, it is most often the weakened arm and hand muscles resulting in deformities and functional impairments, that prevents the patient from coping with everyday life situations. The therapy addresses dysfunctions from the shoulder girdle to the fingertips. Important elements include strengthening the muscles of the arm and hand, treating and correcting deformities and joint contractures and correcting abnormal postures and movements.

Thanks to carefully selected tools and tasks, a functional state change can be achieved that allows the optimal quality of self-care activities in eating, drinking, dressing and undressing, as well as in everyday play or other activities.

The effects of Arm-Hand Therapy:

• strengthening of the muscles of the shoulder girdle, upper arm, forearm, hand and fingers
• increase and improvement of the articular pathways of the upper limbs
• improvement in pathological changes, posture and movement patterns
• restoring the functionality of the arms and hands
• the development of hugging, cuddling, grasping movements
• development of fine motor skills
• the formation of pronation and supination for spooning and possible writing preparation