Therapy Device to Increase Flexibility and Range of Motion to the Wrist, Fingers, and Thumb

Abstract

A therapy device and methods thereof for increasing the flexibility and range of motion to the wrist, fingers, and thumb of a person is disclosed. The therapy device is directed to the stretching of the wrist, fingers, and thumb to improve range of motion, especially in such conditions as post-stroke spasticity.

1 . An adjustable, lightweight, portable therapy device to increase flexibility and range of motion to the wrist, fingers, and thumb, the therapy device comprising:
 a platform configured to receive an arm, wrist, hand, and fingers;   a plurality of holes disposed upon the platform; and   a plurality of pegs configured for interchangeable placement within any of the plurality of holes and extending upwardly from the arm, wrist, and hand platform, the plurality of pegs configured to be gripped by the hand and fingers.   
   
   
       2 . The therapy device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first loop strap disposed upon the platform and configured to wrap around the arm to secure the arm to the platform.   
   
   
       3 . The therapy device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a second loop strap disposed upon the platform and configured to wrap around the arm to secure the arm to the platform, wherein the first loop strap is configured to wrap around the upper forearm and the second loop strap is configured to wrap around the lower forearm.   
   
   
       4 . The therapy device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first fastener, disposed on first loop strap, to fasten the first loop strap and to secure the upper forearm to the platform; and   a second fastener, disposed on the second loop strap, to fasten the second loop strap and to secure the lower forearm to the platform.   
   
   
       5 . The therapy device of  claim 4 , wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are hook-and-loop fasteners. 
   
   
       6 . The therapy device of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is ambidextrously configured and dual-sided, comprising a first platform side configured for use with a left arm, wrist, hand and fingers and a second platform side configured for use with a right arm, wrist, hand and fingers. 
   
   
       7 . The therapy device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes disposed upon the platform is varied to accommodate varied arm and hand sizes. 
   
   
       8 . The therapy device of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of holes disposed upon the platform includes a first number of holes in which to place a first number of the plurality of pegs for arm alignment and a second number of holes to in which to place a second number of the plurality of pegs for gripping by the hand and fingers. 
   
   
       9 . The therapy device of  claim 1 , wherein the therapy device is configured to extend the fingers, grip the hand, and to exercise the joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles in the fingers, hand, and wrist. 
   
   
       10 . The therapy device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a three-point leveraged position, the three-point leveraged position created by a placement of three of the plurality of pegs into three of the plurality of holes on the platform, three pegs arranged in a three-point triangular arrangement for grip by the hand and fingers.   
   
   
       11 . A method for increasing flexibility and range of motion to the wrist, fingers, and thumb, the method comprising:
 utilizing a therapy device comprising:
 a platform configured to receive an arm, wrist, hand, and fingers; 
 a plurality of holes disposed upon the platform; and 
 a plurality of pegs configured for interchangeable placement within any of the plurality of holes and extending upwardly from the arm, wrist, and hand platform, the plurality of pegs configured to be gripped by the hand and fingers; 
   positioning therapeutically the arm, wrist, hand, and fingers in the platform; and   extending the fingers, gripping the hand, and exercising the joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles in the fingers, hand, and wrist, thereby increasing flexibility and range of motion to the wrist, fingers, and thumb.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 utilizing the therapy device wherein the plurality of holes disposed upon the platform is varied to accommodate varied arm and hand sizes, and wherein the plurality of holes disposed upon the platform includes a first number of holes in which to place a first number of the plurality of pegs for arm alignment; and   positioning therapeutically the arm, wrist, hand, and fingers in the platform between a peg at the inner upper forearm and a peg at the outer lower forearm.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 utilizing the therapy device wherein the plurality of holes disposed upon the platform includes a second number of holes to in which to place a second number of the plurality of pegs for gripping by the hand and fingers; and   positioning therapeutically the arm, wrist, hand, and fingers in the platform for grip of the second number of the plurality of pegs by the hand and fingers.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 utilizing the therapy device wherein second number of the plurality of pegs forms a three-point leveraged position, the three-point leveraged position created by a placement of three of the plurality of pegs into three of the plurality of holes on the platform, three pegs arranged in a three-point triangular arrangement for grip by the hand and fingers; and   positioning therapeutically the arm, wrist, hand, and fingers in the platform for grip of the three-point leveraged position by the hand and fingers.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 utilizing the therapy device wherein the platform is ambidextrously configured and dual-sided, comprising a first platform side configured for use with a left arm, wrist, hand and fingers and a second platform side configured for use with a right arm, wrist, hand and fingers;   positioning interchangeably, therapeutically the left arm, wrist, hand, and fingers in the platform on the first platform side for therapy of the left arm, wrist, hand and fingers; and   positioning interchangeably, therapeutically the right arm, wrist, hand, and fingers in the platform on the second platform side for therapy of the right arm, wrist, hand and fingers.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 utilizing the therapy device with the therapy device further comprising:
 a first loop strap disposed upon the platform and configured to wrap around the arm to secure the arm to the platform; 
   positioning therapeutically the arm, wrist, hand, and fingers in the platform; and   wrapping the first loop strap around the arm to secure the arm to the platform of the therapy device.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 utilizing the therapy device with the therapy device further comprising:
 a second loop strap disposed upon the platform and configured to wrap around the arm to secure the arm to the platform, wherein the first loop strap is configured to wrap around the upper forearm and the second loop strap is configured to wrap around the lower forearm; 
   wrapping the first loop strap around the arm to secure the upper forearm to the platform of the therapy device; and   wrapping the second loop strap around the arm to secure the lower forearm to the platform of the therapy device.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 utilizing the therapy device with the therapy device further comprising:
 a first fastener, disposed on first loop strap, to fasten the first loop strap and to secure the upper forearm to the platform; and 
   fastening the first loop strap with the first fastener.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 utilizing the therapy device with the therapy device further comprising:
 a second fastener, disposed on the second loop strap, to fasten the second loop strap and to secure the lower forearm to the platform; and 
   fastening the second loop strap with he second fastener.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 utilizing the therapy device wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are hook-and-loop fasteners.