On The Other Hand Therapy, Columbus, OH (2026)

01/13/2026

What is overuse syndrome for people with upper limb differences (ULD)?

This post kicks off a long-form series about an issue affecting the ULD community far more often, and much earlier, than anyone knew

This series is for:
🩵 parents of little ones with upper limb differences
🩵 adults beginning to notice early signs of overuse
🩵 practitioners supporting this community

Please drop your questions about overuse syndrome in the comments. I want to hear what you’re wondering about!

Thank you to:
🩷 upper limb different researcher Dr. Amber Jenkins for her study on OS in our community! (article source below)
🩷 interns Amanda, Cassie, and Keleigh for their contributions to this series
🩷 for thoughtful feedback
🩷 limb difference organizations & creators sharing awareness & resources

For more posts in this series and related blog content, follow On The Other Hand Therapy and visit ontheotherhand.org (link in bio)

Reference: Jenkins, A. (2025) Understanding Musculoskeletal Concerns of Adults with Congenital Upper Limb Differences: Prevalence, Impact on Function and Treatment. Journal of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Treatment, 11(2), 1-7.

Supporting limb different bodies and families 💪

01/09/2026

Stretch of the Day 🦋 Butterfly Wings
This stretch is great for children and grown-ups to open, relax, and wake up the shoulders and arms
🩵 No equipment needed
🩵 Sit or stand with your arms or nubs reaching forward
🩵 Rotate your torso and arm to one side to “spread” that wing
🩵 Using the other arm or nub, trace the arm to your shoulder
🩵 Return to the middle and switch sides
🩵 Move at a comfortable pace while breathing
🩵 The movement should feel gentle but energizing
🩵 Easily adapted for different bodies and ages
Parents & caregivers — try this alongside your child using music if you choose!
Here are playful cues to make it fun:
🩷 “You’re a butterfly spreading (or drying out) your wings”
🩷 “Let’s put lotion on our arms”
Adapt as needed: If reaching across the body isn’t accessible, focus on the twist and shoulder opening. Trace along your upper arm, shoulder, or chest instead. The goal is gentle movement and body awareness, not how far you reach.
Image description:
Laura sits on a chair with both arms extended in front. As she moves one arm outward away from her body, she traces along the inside of that arm with her other hand and then returning to midline switches arms. She gently turns her head to follow the movement as she extends each arm further away from her body, watching the movement of each arm.
🩷 Follow along for more stretches and ULD-informed tips
This is general education, not individualized medical advice. Please check with your/your child’s provider if you’re unsure what’s best for your body.
.
Supporting limb different bodies and families 💪

01/06/2026

This message is for parents raising children with disabilities, and limb differences in particular.
You don’t have to know everything about your child's disability from the start to be a good parent to your child.
Of course it's wonderful to keep learning and gaining understanding about your child's disability, and you will do that over the course of your child’s entire life. But it’s also super important to take breaks, to give yourself time and space to learn and grow.
Every parent looks back and wishes they’d known something sooner. Not just parents of children with disabilities — every parent. That’s simply part of parenting.
I'm excited to share more educational content with you this year, but I want it to feel supportive and sustainable. Here's your permission to take it in at whatever pace is right for you.
I'll be here when you're ready. 🩷

01/02/2026

This post builds on Part 1, where we explored different types of limb differences. 🩷

Language and terminology around congenital limb difference and acquired limb loss can feel confusing, especially when different words are used in different spaces.

That’s because terms like limb difference, limb loss, and amputee don’t just describe bodies. They reflect lived experience, identity, culture, and context.

There isn’t one “right” word that fits everyone.

The most respectful approach is simple:
💡use the language people use for themselves
💡ask when you’re unsure
💡stay open to learning

Follow On The Other Hand Therapy for more limb difference content

Thank you to student intern Cali and for assistance with this post!

And many thanks to all of the limb difference organizations and individuals sharing information & resources 🩵

01/02/2026

This post builds on Part 1, where we explored different types of limb differences. 🩷

Language and terminology around congenital limb difference and acquired limb loss can feel confusing, especially when different words are used in different spaces.

That’s because terms like limb difference, limb loss, and amputee don’t just describe bodies. They reflect lived experience, identity, culture, and context.

There isn’t one “right” word that fits everyone.

The most respectful approach is simple:
💡use the language people use for themselves
💡ask when you’re unsure
💡stay open to learning

Follow On The Other Hand Therapy for more limb difference content

Thank you to student intern Cali and for assistance with this post!

And many thanks to all of the limb difference organizations and individuals sharing information & resources 🩵

01/01/2026

Starting the new year 🎉 exploring limb differences, looking at some similarities and differences. 🩷

Congenital limb difference and acquired limb loss can look similar on the outside, but they can represent different life experiences, identities, and needs.

This distinction is especially important for families, educators, and healthcare providers. When these experiences are collapsed into a single category, we risk misunderstanding expectations, overlooking long-term considerations, or using language that doesn’t fit how someone identifies.

Language preferences vary by individual, and listening always matters most.

Stayed tuned for part 2: drops tomorrow! Follow On The Other Hand Therapy for more limb different content

For more information about limb differences: https://amputee-coalition.org/resources/pediatric-limb-loss-and-limb-difference-an-introduction-for-parents/

Thank you to student intern Cali and for assistance with this post!

Thank you to all of the limb difference organizations and individuals sharing information and resources 🩵

Lucky Fin Project LimbBo Foundation - Official Limb Difference Community Page Amputee Coalition

12/26/2025

Over the 26 years I’ve worked with children with disabilities, I’ve learned something that continues to humble me: their families are abundant in love, effort, and advocacy. 🩷💪
Over time, many families have also shared what they are still seeking alongside clinical care. They want a lifespan perspective on their child’s disability, so they can better anticipate what may come next.
This is especially true in the upper limb difference community.
I feel deeply grateful to use my personal and professional skills in service of this community in a focused, intentional way. Every conversation, collaboration, and project that strengthens the infrastructure around upper limb differences feels meaningful to me.
This work is bigger than any one person. It grows through shared effort among adults with lived experience, clinicians, students, interns, and families who are thinking carefully about support across a lifetime. 💡
These are the gifts I hold with gratitude, now and always. 🩵
I didn’t know this dream was possible and I am thankful every day that it is.

12/18/2025

upper body strengthening tools for upper limb differences 🩷💪🩵
These are the tools I actually use in my own gym + home workouts with a partial hand
Adaptive strengthening is about finding tools and setups to strengthen both sides as equally as possible
Every body is different, so figuring out what works for your anatomy may involve experimentation and creativity!
This strengthening routine helps reduce the impact of overuse syndrome
💪 Product links in bio
This reel is for educational purposes only, not medical advice

12/16/2025

One thing I’ve been reflecting on this year is how much my work, and my capacity to do it, has been made possible by steady, behind-the-scenes support.

My husband of 25 years has deeply supported me, not just emotionally, but through steady presence and partnership in the everyday moments that make long-term work and growth possible:
🩵 encouragement
🩵 patient listening
🩵 problem-solving alongside me when things feel hard or uncertain
🩵 understanding my desire to contribute meaningfully to my community

I know many parents raising children with limb differences wonder what adulthood will look like. They wonder whether their child will be supported, chosen, and able to build a life with people who truly see them.

This post isn’t a promise or a blueprint. It’s simply a reminder that supportive, meaningful partnership exist and that interdependence, not independence, is what sustains most of us over time. 🩷

None of us do meaningful work alone 💡

12/12/2025

Stretch of the day 🩷
A soothing foam-roller chest + upper back release to help your shoulders stay open, balanced, and moving well — especially supportive for upper limb different adults & children 💪
This one feels instantly good. It’s an easy and relaxing way to melt tension along the chest, spine, and shoulders.

🩵 Equipment needed: a foam roller (recommended) or rolled-up blanket (less good)
🩵 Great for adults, teens, & children
🩵 Place the roller perpendicular to your back, just under the chest
🩵 Slowly roll up and down the upper back while keeping your head supported
🩵 Start with 10–20 seconds; build up to 20–30 seconds
🩵 To make it gentler: keep your hips on the floor
🩵 To deepen the release: lift your hips slightly or pause over tight spots
Parents & caregivers — try doing this alongside your child!
Here are playful cues to make it fun:
🩷 “You're a steamroller smooshing the ground!”
🩷 “Time to flatten the cookie batter!"
🩷 “Roll like a giant ocean wave!”
🩷 “Shine your heart toward the sky and feel the sun warming you up!”
Image description:
Laura lies on a foam roller placed perpendicular to her upper back, just beneath the chest. She gently lifts her hips and rolls up and down the upper back, opening the chest and releasing tension through the shoulders.
👉 Follow along for more stretches and ULD-informed tips
This is general education, not individualized medical advice. Please check with your/your child’s provider if you’re unsure what’s best for your body.

12/10/2025

upper body strengthening tools for upper limb difference 🩷💪🩵

So many of you have asked about the strengthening tools I use with my partial hand. Here are the actual tools I reach for regularly in my own workouts at both home and gym

Every body is unique, so you may need to test or modify tools to fit your (or your child’s) anatomy. I’ll share a separate post in January all about how I customize almost everything I buy.

Save this post if you’re creating a home exercise setup, preparing for the winter “stuck indoors” season, or looking for practical gifts for someone with an upper limb difference

If there’s a product you love, please share it in the comments — your recommendations help the whole community! 🩷

Please note: this post is educational only and not medical advice. Always check with a healthcare provider before starting new exercise routines.

Transparency: I do not receive commissions or kick backs for the products in this post. Occasionally companies send me free products to try 🙂

Access the links for these products: https://ontheotherhand.org/upper-body-strengthening-tools-for-upper-limb-difference/ 🩵

Follow for ULD education + overuse prevention resources

Many thanks to:
- & & for their help
- all of the limb difference organizations and individuals sharing limb difference resources and information!

Lucky Fin Project LimbBo Foundation - Official Limb Difference Community Page

12/02/2025

Limb different toys & dolls — 2025 update 🧸

So excited to share the many fabulous toy & doll options available — perfect for the young and young at heart! 🩵

Growing up with a partial hand, I never had a toy with a limb difference like mine. I can only imagine how much my 5 year old self would have loved one of these!

Full website post with product info: https://ontheotherhand.org/limb-different-toys-matter/

Transparency: I do not receive commissions or kick backs for toy recommendations. Occasionally companies send me free products — like , who sent me the Dougie plushie! 🩷

If you’d like more limb difference content, please follow!

Many thanks to:
- for sharing the photo of her son Max with his Doll Like Me
- for sharing the photo of her son Cade with his Budsies doll
- & and for their help
- all of the limb difference organizations who have contributed to kickstarter campaigns for toy companies!

Content creation takes a lot of time and effort; if you have the means to support my work, please consider a monthly Patreon donation: rebrand.ly/568b85

Note: There are other toys with different body parts, too, such as Reindeer in Here (Blizz has one smaller antler)

Parents — if you’re willing to share a photo of your child loving their limb different stuffy or toy for my website, please message me!

Lucky Fin Project LimbBo Foundation - Official Limb Difference Community Page The Helping Hand Project Helping Hands Foundation The Doll For All Reach Charity UK Mayana & Friends Budsies A Doll Like Me Disney A Step Ahead Prosthetics Kikilishop - Personalized Gifts for all Warrior Kids LEGO

On The Other Hand Therapy

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12/26/2025

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