Fine Motor Skills

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills generally refers to actions of the hands, wrists, and arms, including dexterity, coordination, and strength. These actions can be broken down into six components:

Basic Reach - stabilization and movement of the arm and hand with the purpose of contacting an object
Grasp - attainment of an object with the hand
Carry - transporting a hand-held object
Release - intentionally letting go of a hand-held object at desired time and place
In-Hand Manipulation - adjusting object within the hand after grasp
Bilateral Hand Use - effectively using both hands together to accomplish an activity

Fine motor skills enable people to do many things in daily life without even realizing the complexity of what the hands and arms are doing!

Zip up pants
Scratch an itch
Pick a flower
Brush teeth
Open doors
Cut food
Write a note
Cut with scissors
Turn pages
Play games
Eat with a fork
Turn a key
Shake someone’s hand
Put on eyeglasses
Button shirts
Operate a TV
Tie shoes
Use the elevator
Communicate with sign language

…and these are only a few of the basics!

How Can These Skills Become Impaired?
Fine motor skills can be impaired in a number of ways, including injury, illness, stroke, disease, arthritis, and congenital deformities, just to name a few. When these skills are impaired, many aspects of a person’s life are impacted.

What Can Be Done?
Luckily, there are many things that can be done to counter these impairments, including occupational therapy. Occupational therapy can address impairments at many levels, including treating the underlying cause, strengthening muscles, re-training muscles in specific movements, using compensatory techniques, using adaptive equipment, and patient / family / caregiver education.

Questions?
If you or someone you know has been having difficulty with use of hands, wrists, and / or arms, occupational therapy may be able to help. The Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center (HSDC) offers occupational therapy for most insurance plans. For more information, or to schedule an evaluation, please call 206.323.5770 V/TTY or email speech@hsdc.org.