Exercises and Activities to Improve and Maintain Fine Motor Skills

Do you get frustrated when you attempt to put on your favorite necklace, count pills, tie your shoes, manipulate coins or put the cap on the toothpaste tube?

Hand function and fine motor skills begin to decline due to normal aging, arthritis and neurological diseases.

Try some of these Occupational Therapy exercises to improve your dexterity at home. Don’t forget alternate hands for an extra challenge.

Manipulate coins: pick several in your hand one at a time and put them in a bank or small jar, one at a time.
Make a chain of paper clips.
Stack small blocks.
Practice writing your favorite poem, quote and name/signature.
Flip playing cards. Shuffle.
Flip pages in a book or magazine.
Complete jigsaw puzzles.
Manipulate pieces to board games; i.e. MasterMind, Perfection, Monopoly, _{Chinese Checkers, Connect Four}
Knit, Crochet, Sew.
Play computer/video games.
Fasten buttons on a shirt (can be on lap). Repeat several times.
Tie laces (can be on lap). Repeat several times.
Keep fingers extended and flat on a table. Open and close fingers while gathering a _{tissue or towel in between fingers.}
Rip paper into pieces and crumple into small balls with fingertips.
Manipulate nuts and bolts.
Fill basin with raw rice and place objects in rice. Remove objects.
Crumple and flatten a piece of paper, paper towel, tissue.
Manipulate marbles
Stack checkers
Fold paper

Author

Rita Levey, OTR/L Rita Levey OTR/L graduated from New York University with a Masters of Arts in Occupational Therapy. Since then, she has received several awards for her leadership and service and loves to participate in postgraduate work. Rita has over 25 years of experience and is now the director of our In-Home Occupational Therapy Program! Rita has extensive experience that ranges working with patients who’ve had injuries to their hand, spinal cord, brain, neurologic dysfunction, stroke recovery, MS, Parkinson’s, and the severely disabled.

You Might Also Enjoy...

Understanding Retro Walking

Walking is one of the simplest and most effective forms of exercise, but have you ever considered walking backward? Known as retro walking, this unique form of movement is gaining attention in the rehabilitation and fitness world for its surprising physica

Better Balance, Posture, and Pain-Free Movement

When people hear the word "core," they often think of abdominal muscles. However, your core is much more than that. It includes the muscles of your abdomen, lower back, pelvis, and hips that work together to support your spine and keep your body stable dur

Punching Exercises for Strength & Coordination: Makeshift Punching Bag

Physical and occupational therapy don't have to feel repetitive or boring. At Reddy Care Physical and Occupational Therapy, we believe that therapy should be engaging, motivating, and tailored to each patient's goals. That's why we often incorporate creati

How Vestibular Therapy Can Help Reduce Dizziness and Improve Balance

Feeling dizzy, unsteady, or off-balance can make even simple daily activities challenging. Whether you're walking through your home, climbing stairs, driving, or participating in social activities, balance issues can affect your confidence, independence, a

Managing Scoliosis: What You Need to Know

Scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves sideways instead of staying straight. This curve can develop in different areas of the spine, most commonly in the upper back or lower back. While it can sometimes go unnoticed at first, early awareness is ke

Red Light Therapy : Healing from the inside out

Pain, inflammation, and slow recovery can make it difficult to stay active and enjoy daily life. Using low-level red and near-infrared light, this therapy may help reduce pain, decrease inflammation, and promote faster recovery from a variety of musculoske