Page 20 - A Guide to Physical and Occupational Therapy for CMT

STRENGTHENING: Resistance training for hand and wrist muscles may help
prevent muscle atrophy, as well as maintain hand strength for those with CMT.
It may also improve strength for those with mild to moderate weakness. It is
essential to understand the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic muscles
and to target their strengthening appropriately.

Intrinsic hand muscles
Resistive movement activities utilizing the various pinch patterns (lateral,
palmar, and pincer,) ab/adduction (spreading apart and together) of the
fingers and an intrinsic plus grip pattern (MP joints flex while keeping IP
joints fully extended) can strengthen the hands.

Tools such as Theraputty, clothes pins,
snack clips, scissors, rubber bands,
bubble wrap, squeeze bottles,
tongs/tweezers, sponges and squirt
bottles can be used to provide
resistance for the aforementioned
movement patterns.

Extrinsic hand muscles
Resistive movement activities utilizing gross grasp (making a fist), wrist
flexion and extension (bending up and down) and pronation/supination
(palm up/down) can help strengthen the hands.

Tools including Digi flex devices, Cando fin-
ger webs and Theraband flex bars of various
resistances can help strengthen larger
forearm-based muscles.