Hand therapy putty: which resistance, and how to use it
by Total Patient CareTherapy putty is the simplest piece of hand rehab equipment there is: a tub of silicone you squeeze, pinch and stretch. The only decision is resistance, and getting it wrong is the commonest reason people give up on it. Too firm and the hand tires in a minute; too soft and nothing changes. This guide explains how the six grades map to grip strength, what a basic program looks like, and how to tell when it's time to move up.
The six grades
SecurPutty comes in six colour-coded resistances. The grip-strength figures are a guide to where to start, measured with a hand dynamometer; if you don't have one, the descriptions will get you close.
| Colour | Resistance | Grip strength guide | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | Soft | 9 to 18 kg | Early rehab after fracture or surgery; arthritis flare; very weak grip |
| Red | Medium-soft | 16 to 27 kg | Most older adults; the usual starting point for a stiff, painful hand |
| Green | Medium | 25 to 36 kg | General strengthening; a working adult's hand after injury |
| Blue | Firm | 30 to 40 kg | Later rehab; tradespeople and musicians rebuilding grip |
| Purple | Extra firm | 38 to 55 kg | Strong hands finishing a program; climbers and athletes |
| Dark green | Extra-extra firm | 50 kg and up | Maximum resistance; rarely a starting grade |
If you are between grades, choose the softer one. Putty is for repetitions, not a single effort: the right grade is the one you can work for five minutes without pain or shaking.
A simple program
Your therapist will set the program that suits your injury. For general strengthening, four exercises cover the hand, done once or twice a day with the putty warmed in your hands first:
- Full-hand squeeze. Roll the putty into a ball, squeeze with all fingers and thumb, hold for three seconds, release. Ten repetitions.
- Finger pinch. Pinch the putty between thumb and each finger in turn, flattening it. Five pinches per finger.
- Finger spread. Make a ring of putty around the fingers, then spread them apart against it. Ten repetitions. This works the small muscles that squeezing misses.
- Thumb press. Flatten the putty on a table with the pad of the thumb, rolling from base to tip. Ten presses.
Stop if a joint hurts, as opposed to the muscles feeling worked. Pain in a joint means the grade is too firm or the exercise is wrong for your condition.
When to move up
Move to the next colour when the current one feels easy for the full set, on two consecutive days. That usually takes two to four weeks a grade. Most people never need purple; a hand that can work blue putty comfortably has the grip it needs for daily life.
Tub sizes
The 85 g tub is the one for a patient: enough for every exercise above, and small enough to keep in a pocket. Clinics buy the 2.3 kg tub and portion it out. Keep putty in its container between sessions and off fabric and carpet; it is non-toxic silicone, but it doesn't come out of a jumper.
What else helps
Putty strengthens the whole hand at once. To work the fingers one at a time, a Digiflex isolates each digit so a strong finger can't cover for a weak one. For a hand too weak or too sore for putty, slow-recovery foam blocks are the gentle starting point.
Not sure which grade to start on? Call us on 02 9878 6188; we have supplied Australian hand therapists since 1973 and are happy to help.