Charlie

Hi Charlie,

I hope that you go well with reaching your goal. Here is some advice from the Facebook community.

Tarz Alison

Some Theraputty would be good for various hand strengthening excerises too… rolling into a long sausage with one hand then pinching with the thumb and each finger. Rolling back into a ball in his fist and squeezing, and repeat.

You could get some light weights and use during activities like target practice. So place some markers down on a table and move the weight from one marker, to the next, so on. Make it harder by increasing the height of where the markers are placed such as putting on top of cups or boxes.

Is his primary issue that he is struggling with the strength to grip the handlebar? Or use the front brake?

Pip Hicks

Charlie I love my bike too that is my Trike - I say just keep trying everything and anything as long as you’re trying! I put my break and my accelerator all on the one side of my good side so that I could ride my bike and then gradually as the hand got better and I was game enough to put my break on that side I did

But hey man you’re 90 what!? How good are you already —“bloody wonderful!”

Donna Dee

Just about to comment on using Theraputty too.

I'd used it after surgery on my hand and when my dad had a major stroke I gave it to him to roll and squeeze and definitely saw results after he diligently did his physio with it. He got a decent amount of grip strength back and he kept using it for a long time to keep that strength and flexibility in his hands up.

It took dad a while but he got quite a lot of his grip back, keep persevering and you'll get there Charlie! good luck

Simone Galway

After continuing with the exercises set by rehab, my daughter found it helpful with her weak hand putting a pair of socks that had been folded or a face washer that was rolled and squeezing while watching tv or having quiet time..

 i-REBOUND is great for exercises too.

Tanya Kat

Rehab is extremely important. Take this journey a day at a time. Keeping hydrated is important. You will improve. Dr Tara is a great physio on Youtube (rehab hq) if you can't afford a physio.

Thankyou for the comments and info about theraputty and I-Rebound. We will look into it.  Also Charlie  was able to ride his trike at the weekend with the hand controls changed over to the left hand side.  It was slow but it was great!  This is Jenny, his wife,  answering for him as he is not up to typing . It is encouraging to hear the comments from other stroke survivors.