Joint Compression

Purpose of activity:

To increase a child's body awareness prior to fine motor activities and independent movement activities

Safety:

This activity should only be carried out if it has been demonstrated to you in the assessment 

Shoulder

Hold firmly above and below the join, supporting the limb so that the joint is in line.

Elbow

Apply gentle pressure by pushing your hands together briefly and then release. 

Wrists

Repeat this five times on each joint. 

Hips

Hold firmly above and below the join, supporting the limb so that the joint is in line.

Knees

Apply gentle pressure by pushing your hands together briefly and then release.

Ankles

Repeat this five times on each joint.

A person in a blue shirt having their arm held by another person with an arrow pointing to their shoulder, demonstrating the proper motion for performing joint compressions prior to a Physical Therapy visit at Reach for Speech.
A person is gripping another person's arm in a firm hold, pushing the hands towards one another allows the person to compress the joint they are working on, warming the patient up for physical therapy.
A person holding and pulling on a child's hand with red arrows pointing towards each other in the middle showing how to perform joint compressions on the hands prior to a Physical Therapy session.
A person performing hip joint compressions on a child lying on a mat, with hands on the child's chest and legs and arrows indicating where to compress.
A person performing knee joint compressions on a child lying on a mat, with hands on the child's legs and arrows indicating where to compress.
A person performing ankle joint compressions on a child lying on a mat, with hands on the child's leg and foot with arrows indicating where to compress.

(From Reach for Speech Resources)