Normal Development of the Hand and Upper Extremity

Course overview

A pediatric patient is constantly growing and changing. Therapeutic intervention should be tailored to meet the needs of the child at their developmental level. The therapist must have a solid understanding of normal hand and upper extremity development in order to effectively treat any pediatric patient, especially one with hand involvement. This course will describe the normal development of the hand and upper extremity starting in utero and continuing through teen years. By remembering the developmental progression of hand skills (grasp/release, in hand manipulation, pencil grasp), a therapist can provide and advance the intervention to encourage the childs potential for maximal hand use, despite their diagnosis/condition.