Occupational therapy home exercise programs
Build an OT home exercise program in a couple of minutes: hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder exercises from a clinician-reviewed library, with pictures and dosage, sent as a link and a PDF your patient can print.
What goes into an OT home exercise program
An occupational therapy HEP usually serves a daily task rather than a body part on its own. The exercises OTs send most often fall into a few groups:
- Hand and finger mobilityTendon glides, finger extension with a rubber band, thumb opposition.
- Grip and pinch strengthGrip squeezes, towel wringing and other functional strengthening.
- Wrist and elbowWrist extensor stretches, eccentric wrist extension, forearm rotation.
- Nerve glidesMedian, ulnar and radial nerve glides for carpal and cubital tunnel symptoms.
- Shoulder and postureRange of motion, scapular retraction and posture work that supports daily tasks.
- Caregiver-led range of motionPassive range of motion programs a family member can follow at home.
What makes an OT HEP easy to follow
- Tie each exercise to a taskSay what it's for: buttoning, opening jars, reaching a shelf. Patients do exercises they can see a reason for.
- Keep it shortThree to five exercises the patient can fit into the day, not a long list they skip.
- Pictures of the hand positionStart and end positions matter more for small joints, where a word description is easy to misread.
- Clear dosageReps, holds and how often, plus which hand. Easy to miss on a handout.
- When to stopNumbness, tingling or sharp pain means stop and call the clinic.
The home exercise program guide covers dosage, progression and adherence in more detail.
Ready-made programs OTs use
Start from one of these, then adjust the exercises and dosage for your patient:
Print or email, no app needed
Email the program and your patient gets a private link that opens on any phone, plus a PDF they can print. You can also print home exercise program PDFs in the clinic, 1, 2 or 4 exercises per page. Build your first one with the free home exercise program builder.
Questions
What is a HEP in occupational therapy?
A home exercise program: the exercises an occupational therapist gives a patient to do between sessions, usually aimed at a daily task such as dressing, cooking or work.
Can I give my patient an OT home exercise program as a PDF?
Yes. Print it in the clinic, or email it and the patient gets a private link plus a PDF copy they can print at home. Your first 3 programs, printed or emailed, are free; Pro ($9.99/month) makes it unlimited and removes the HEPonDemand band from printouts.
Is HEPonDemand only for physical therapists?
No. It's built for PTs, OTs and other licensed therapists. The library includes hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder and caregiver exercises.
Do patients need an app?
No. The link opens on any phone, with no app or account, and no patient records are stored.
Send your first program today
Free to start. No card needed. Upgrade to Pro to print and send as many as you need, and save them.