What is Vive Therapy Putty?
Vive therapy putty is a type of specialized putty used for hand and finger exercises and rehabilitation. It is often recommended by occupational therapists to help strengthen the hands, improve dexterity, and manage conditions like arthritis or injury recovery.
This therapeutic putty has some unique properties that set it apart from regular putty or clay:
- Adds resistance to exercises to build strength
- Helps improve finger, hand, and forearm flexibility
- Unique textures provide sensory input
- Warms in your hand as it's worked to soothe sore joints
- Easy to manipulate and mold into any shape
Key Benefits of Using Vive Therapy Putty
When used properly and consistently, vive therapy putty delivers several proven benefits:
- Increases blood flow and oxygenation to the hands
- Reduces stiffness and swelling in the fingers and wrists
- Builds stronger hand and forearm muscles
- Improves fine motor skills and coordination
- Enhances dexterity and function of the hands
- Decreases pain associated with arthritis and injuries
How Can Therapy Putty Help Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms?
For those struggling with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms in their hands and wrists, vive therapy putty delivers meaningful relief and protection in several ways:
1. Reduces Stiffness and Swelling
The warmth generated from kneading and manipulating therapy putty increases blood flow to the surrounding tissues. This rush of fresh circulation flushes out swelling and loosens stiff, painful joints.
2. Protects Against Deformities
Performing putty hand exercises helps rheumatoid arthritis patients maintain strength and flexibility. This makes joints less prone to deformities like swan neck deformities or boutonniere deformities.
3. Prevents Muscle Atrophy
The resistance putty provides builds stronger muscles over time. This protects against muscle atrophy and accompanying weakness/dysfunction.
4. Soothes Nerve Pain
Kneading the puttys unique, malleable texture stimulates nerve receptors in a beneficial way to ease neuropathic pain.
5. Improves Mood and Outlook
Exercising with the putty releases feel-good endorphins and gives patients a sense of control over managing their condition for better mental health.
Vive Therapy Putty Exercises for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Occupational therapists often recommend incorporating home exercises with vive therapy putty into your rheumatoid arthritis management plan. Trying these 3-5 times per week can deliver immense benefits over time:
Finger Flexion
This simple exercise involves using your fingers to mold and shape the putty any way you wish. Focus on fully flexing and extending your fingers as you manipulate it.
Finger and Thumb Pinching
Pinch small pieces of the putty between your fingers and thumbs in a rythmic pinching motion. Work on precision grips between different finger combinations.
Wrist Flexion
Flatten the putty out and use your wrist to move hand up and down over it, flexing wrist fully in both directions as you do.
Toss and Catch
Mold putty into a ball shape then work on tossing and catching movement. Start gentle and slow, focusing on using fingers fully to grasp ball.
Rolling
Roll the putty out like dough into a cylindrical shape using both hands, applying pressure. Then use palms and fingers to roll it back and forth.
Vive Occupational Therapy Putty Kit comes with a guidebook on how to perform even more beneficial finger and hand exercises using their specialized putties.
Types of Vive Therapy Putty
Vive offers several varieties of therapy putty, each with a unique density and texture to accommodate different needs and abilities.
Soft Putty
The softest putty has a doughy texture that easily molds into any shape. Perfect for sensitive hands or early hand strength building.
Medium Putty
With more density and resistance than soft putty, it challenges hands moderately to rebuild dexterity.
Firm Putty
Very dense and rigid, firm therapy putty takes effort to manipulate for rebuilding severely weakened hands.
X-Firm Putty
The highest density putty, x-firm therapy putty sharpens motor skills through intense resistance training.
Kits with all 4 densities allow you to progress exercises as your hands grow stronger or vary resistance day-to-day.
Specialty Sensory Putties
For sensory stimulation benefits, Vive also offers therapeutic putties infused with pleasing scents, vivid colors, interesting textures like super soft microbeads, interactive temperature changing properties, and more.
Choosing the Best Therapy Putty
With many therapy putty brands available, it helps to know what criteria to evaluate when comparing options:
Medical-Grade Materials
Top professional therapy putties use non-toxic medical materials tested safe for human use with no irritating textures or scents.
Made in Specialized Facility
Quality standards ensure consistency and purity when made in facilities specifically designed for medical putties rather than craft putties.
Recommended By Therapists
The best indication of effectiveness is real occupational therapists recommending the putty to their patients.
Accommodating Texture
A good therapy putty should be cohesive enough to manipulate without sticking to the skin too much for ease of exercising.
Improves With Body Heat
Putty that warms and softens as it's kneaded makes for a more comfortable, therapeutic experience.
Prioritizing these factors helps arthritis patients obtain maximum relief and functionality improvements from working with hand therapy putty.
Guide to Using Vive Therapy Putty
While highly beneficial, exercising with therapy putty does require some safety precautions and proper usage tips:
- Check with doctor before starting, especially after recent surgery
- Start with just 5-10 minutes, 1-2x per day
- Gradually build up resistance and duration as able
- Stop immediately if excessive pain or skin irritation occurs
- Ensure hands and putty surface are clean before use to prevent bacterial spread
- Store putty in sealed container away from extreme temperatures or dirt
With smart, progressive use focused on proper form and technique, vive therapy putty delivers transformative results!
FAQs
Who can benefit from using therapy putty?
Anyone looking to strengthen their hands, increase dexterity, and improve flexibility can benefit. It often helps people with arthritis, repetitive stress injuries, stroke recovery, surgery rehab, Parkinson's tremors, and more.
Can I use regular putty or clay instead of therapy putty?
Craft putties available in craft stores are not optimized for therapeutic benefits and could irritate skin. Vive therapy putty uses skin-safe materials tested for rehabilitation use and made to specific densities.
How often should I do therapy putty exercises?
Aim for 3-5 sessions per week, starting with just 5-10 minutes per session as you build up hand tolerance. This frequency helps maximize increases in dexterity, strength, and flexibility over time.
Can children use therapy putty too?
Yes, when properly supervised! Occupational therapists often use therapy putty to help children build fine motor skills or recover from injuries. Ensure safety and cleanliness when young kids handle putty.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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