Therapy wax is an excellent rehabilitation tool for recovering from finger, hand and wrist injuries. Used by physical therapists and occupational therapists alike, it is a favorite for treating many injuries and conditions. Therapeutic wax can be purchased for home use or you can even make your own. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what therapeutic wax is used for, share specific exercises you can start with, and other practical tips. Read on to learn more about using therapy wax.
What is a therapy wax?
Therapy wax is mainly used in the therapy world to strengthen fingers, hands and wrists. In addition, it offers benefits such as increasing blood flow for healing, optimizing functional range of motion in the hands, improving fine motor skills, and even relieving stress. It comes in different colors associated with different resistance levels (usually extra soft, soft, medium and hard). Generally, you start with a lower strength color and gradually move up as your hand strength improves.
What is it made of?
Most therapy waxes are made from non-toxic and odorless silicone. This makes it safe for almost anyone to use. The silicone in this product also helps it last longer without becoming grainy or losing its natural elasticity. If you have skin allergies, always check the ingredients before buying, although most options on the market are now latex free, there are still some therapy wax products that contain latex.
How long will it last?
Your therapy wax can last months or even years with proper care. For best results, always return the therapy wax to its plastic container after each use. However, if you accidentally leave it out sometimes, you can be sure that it will not be destroyed. The wax can be left out or even washed, and it retains its functionality for a long time. One treatment wax should last the entire time your hands are recovering and beyond.
Does the therapy wax have a smell?
It is not unusual for someone to be hypersensitive to smells. The wax is designed to have as little odor as possible, especially since it's something you use with your hands. The silicone material is usually odorless and leaves no residue on the hands.
Who benefits from using therapeutic wax?
There are many reasons to use therapy wax. Anyone suffering from the following problems, conditions or injuries will benefit from consistent use of the wax:
- An acute hand, wrist, or finger injury, such as a joint injury, muscle strain, or even a broken bone (if it's healed and cleared by your doctor)
- Weak grip strength
- Stroke
- Chronic hand pain due to previous injuries
- Hand or wrist arthritis (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis)
- Carpal tunnel or any other type of nerve injury
- Recovering from hand or wrist surgery
- Generalized arm or wrist pain
- Limited range of motion of fingers or wrist
- Finger or wrist stiffness or weakness
- Reduction of needlework
- Circulatory disorders of the hand
- Stress or anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating; ADHD
Exercises with therapeutic wax
The use of training waxes is very versatile. It can be used to perform many different finger, wrist and hand exercises to strengthen, promote circulation, increase dexterity and reduce pain. You can also focus on fine motor skills by burying objects such as marbles or buttons in the wax to dig out. Always start with a lighter resistance and progress according to tolerance.
Basic exercises to strengthen the arms
Scissors
An exercise that works the inner and outer muscles of the fingers that are important for everyday hand function such as grasping and squeezing.
- Take a smaller piece of your therapy wax (less than half)
- Roll the wax into a ball
- Spread two fingers apart while keeping the knuckles straight
- Place the wax between these two fingers and secure it
- Squeeze your fingers together to deform the ball and hold for 1-2 seconds
- Roll the wax back into a ball and repeat
- Do 10 reps between each finger - you can choose to alternate or do all sets at once before moving on to the next finger.
- Do a total of 2-3 series
Squeezing your fingers
Squeezing your fingers together without pain and with good strength is an important part of daily hand use.
- Take your therapy wax and roll it into a long thin cylinder on the table
- Place your thumb and forefinger around the wax
- Squeeze the thumb and fingertips together and hold for 1-2 seconds
- Repeat – this time place your thumb and middle finger on the wax
- Do 10 repetitions with each pair of fingers, 2-3 sets in total
- You can also focus on thumb strength alone with thumb thrusts. Roll a small piece of wax into a ball and place it under your thumb. Press your thumb flat down on the ball towards the other knuckles to make a thumb impression on the wax
A squeeze
This exercise is great for general hand grip strength because it's important to be able to grip something with your whole palm. In addition, it is also a great stress reliever.
- Roll the therapy wax into a large ball
- Place it in your palm
- Wrap your fingers around the wax while keeping your wrist in a neutral position
- Squeeze your fingers tightly into a fist so that the wax comes out of the sides of your hand
- Hold for 1-2 seconds before rolling the ball back up and repeating
- Do 10 repetitions and 2-3 sets on each arm
Smooth squeeze
This exercise is similar to the finger squeeze, but offers a more functional all-in-one approach to grasping and squeezing. For this exercise, the two distal joints of the fingers remain straight.
- Roll your wax into a ball
- Place the wax between your thumb and all four fingers
- Depending on where your weaknesses are, you can play with the position of the wax by placing it on the edge of your fingers or in the middle
- Squeeze and hold while keeping your fingers and thumb flat
- Hold for 1-2 seconds for up to 10 repetitions
- A total of 2-3 series
Spreading the fingers
This exercise works the extensor and abductor muscles of the fingers and wrist, which are important for hand balance and coordination.
- Take the therapy wax and roll it into a long cylinder
- Bring your fingers together in the middle of your hand
- Wrap the wax in a circle around your fingers so that it sits in the middle of your finger
- Spread your fingers apart
- Repeat the action 10 times on each hand for 2-3 sets
Storage of therapeutic wax
As mentioned in the previous point about the longevity of waxes, how you store it is important to keep the wax in optimal condition. For best results, continue to use the plastic container your wax came in. If the plastic packaging breaks or gets lost, be sure to find a new airtight container to store the product in. Then store the container in a neutral environment with no extremes of cold or hot temperatures.