hands

The alphabet is made up of 26 symbols called “letters”. The purpose of this activity is to use our whole body to express our understanding of the symbols or “letters” that we see, using a less complex alphabet. Hands has five “letters”, the orientation is not important.

Here Jes and Sam demonstrate Hands and Numbers using a number chart and how it is used. Watch how Sam moves with grace throughout the activity.

  • Ask the patient to stand centered and back as far as comfortably possible from the chart.

  • Point to the top left symbol of the chart. Indicate the patient they will start here and work their way across the chart and return to the beginning of the next line and continue down.

  • Ask the patient to form the first number on their hand while calling out the number. At the same time they should raise their arm forward until their straight arm reaches the space next to their head. They will continue this pattern, alternating their arms for each number. It can help some patients if we remind them not to begin one hand until they have finished the previous one.

  • Next, ask the patient to do the odd numbered hands with their left hand and even numbers with their right.

  • The third phase of the hands chart, is to ask the patient to also lift the contra lateral leg, pointing the foot forward at the same time as they raise the opposite arm.

    • When the right arm is held up showing the number of fingers correlating to the chart, the left leg is lifted straight forward with the toes pointed.

    • When the left arm is held up showing the number of fingers correlating to the chart, the right leg is lifted straight forward with the toes pointed

    • Challenge your patient to see how far they can get through the chart before they make a mistake. The next time they try, can they challenge themselves to get further each time?

      Observations – as the person progresses, you will start to see a natural rhythm develop in their performance. This is a good indicator that they are proficient and ready to move on. Also, watch for symmetry in their action as they switch between two sides.