A friend wanted to get rid of some of his weights and I bought a bar, one dumbbell and 50 lbs. of weights. I wasn't sure at all how I would use them but by putting them in the way in the living room I stop to use them a few minutes at a time and you get obstacle avoidance. I currently have 40 lbs. on the dumbell and pry my fingers around it and just stand upright with it as a dead weight. The theory being that just holding my fingers in position with that weight will force signals back to my brain, both sensory and motor. I can't clasp my fingers tightly due to some type of spasticity and I'm hoping that this exercise will knock that spasticity out(Where is evidence-based therapy when you need it?). The dead hanging weight is finally enough to straighten out my arm and is great for strengthening my shoulder muscles. I originally bought 3 and 5 lb. weights but at that light weight I couldn't grasp them tightly enough to keep them from slipping out. Thus the new theory that I should use substantial amounts of weights. I'm not sure when or if I'll get to using them the normal way to strengthen my biceps.
Don't even think of doing anything like this without your therapists approval. Danger, danger for damaging your shoulder muscles and your toes from dropped weights.
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