Functional Tasks on a Budget

Therapeutic tasks taken from real-life can be highly effective in improving gross motor, fine motor and cognitive-perceptual deficits. The following examples are inexpensive and can be accomplished in one treatment session.

Shining shoes is a familiar task to most stroke survivors and only requires shoe polish, a brush and a rag (and their shoes, of course!)
It is easy to grade and incorporates both UE and LE control. Lower level patients can work in sitting, higher level patients in standing.
Fresh-squeezed orange juice is a good bimanual activity, equally gratifying and can be used in any treatment setting.
The small juice press is inexpensive and easily found at most grocery stores. It is a good size for encouraging hand function and specific placement of objects can enhance therapeutic effectiveness, as well.

For more tips on selecting and using functional tasks, see: Functional Treatment Ideas and Strategies in Adult Hemiplegia.