Weak Arm with Hemiplegia? Resistance Bands Build Strength 👨🏽‍🦱💪🏽 | Mild Hemiplegia Pediatric PT #4

👋🏽 Hi, I’m Amy Sturkey, a retired pediatric physical therapist with over 35 years of experience. If you want more use from the involved arm, sometimes you have to change the setup so it *has* to do the work. In this video with Macari, we focus on strengthening his right arm using resistance. We start with theratubing and then progress to a thicker loop band with multiple grip options. By changing hand position and direction of movement, we increase the challenge and encourage more active use of his involved side. 👨🏽‍🦱 Meet Macari Macari is 18 years old and has right-sided hemiplegic cerebral palsy due to schizencephaly—a rare congenital condition that causes a cleft, or slit, in the cerebral hemisphere. His involvement affects the right side of his body, and he is also legally blind in his left eye. Depending on the time of year, he receives occupational, physical, and speech therapy. His mother has worked incredibly hard to encourage use of his right arm and hand—and it shows. He is a wonderful co-instructor for demonstrating higher-level skills in individuals with hemiplegia. 🎯 What You’ll See in This Video • Using theratubing for resisted arm movement • Adjusting hand position to increase difficulty • Horizontal pulling to work on control and symmetry • Switching to a thicker loop band for increased resistance • Vertical (up and down) movements to challenge against gravity • Cueing to keep the stronger arm more stable ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and meet Macari 👋🏽 00:29 Starting with theratubing (horizontal) 01:34 Moving hands closer to increase difficulty 02:02 Switching to loop band 02:28 Horizontal work with loop band 02:36 Vertical (up and down) movement 03:14 Reaching higher for increased challenge 03:22 Wrap-up and key takeaway 🧠 Why This Helps This activity targets: • Strengthening of the involved arm • Increased activation of the weaker side • Bilateral coordination • Control through different movement directions • Motor planning with resistance Children and young adults with hemiplegia often rely heavily on their stronger side. By adjusting resistance, grip, and direction, you can create opportunities for the involved arm to contribute more actively. 💡 Practical Tips • Start with lighter resistance and wider hand placement • Move hands closer together to increase difficulty • Use bands with loops for easier gripping • Practice both horizontal and vertical movements • Encourage the stronger arm to stabilize rather than take over ⚠️ Safety Note These videos are for educational purposes and are not a replacement for in-person physical therapy. Every child is unique. Please do not try these techniques if your child’s health or motor skills differ significantly from Macari’s. (I cannot provide treatment recommendations for a child I have not personally evaluated.) 🧩 Watch the entire playlist for Macari here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAkJbMrHyKjNBfzp6CbvVHNQix2UN8X02 📧 Contact [amysturkey@gmail.com](mailto:amysturkey@gmail.com) 🌐 Website [www.pediatricPTexercises.com](http://www.pediatricPTexercises.com) 🪶 Accessibility Closed captions have been reviewed and corrected. To turn on captions: Click CC To change languages: ⚙️ Settings → Subtitles/CC → Choose language or Auto-translate If captions block important details, they can be toggled off in the video player. 📚 Books by Amy Sturkey (Amazon) “P is for Poop and Pee Accidents” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLSRJ483 “A is for Anxiety” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LXQ3W6V “A is for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QH9H5HR “C is for Cerebral Palsy” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088TSJCYP “D is for Down Syndrome” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079P8HH49 “A is for Autism” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071F4FFTB 🧠 Professional PT Books Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Hips – https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156736 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Knees – https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998156760 Pediatric Physical Therapy Strengthening Exercises for the Ankles – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TX2ZCFD