On The Other Hand Therapy

04/22/2026

If you use one hand for almost everything, your arm ends up doing more than its share.

That forearm ache? It may be overuse syndrome, not just “tight muscles.”

Here are a few simple tools I use to manage it:

🩷 vibration → relax muscles (massager)
🩷 rolling → release tension (roll on ball)
🩷 friction → increase circulation (gua sha technique by briskly rubbing on oil)
🩷 apply cold → calms irritation (cold pack)
🩷 apply warm heat → loosens stiffness (hot pack)

For anyone navigating overuse: save this for when your arm aches or burns.

Video description: Self-massage and recovery strategies for the forearm, including vibration, soft tissue rolling, friction techniques, and temperature-based pain management.

Medical disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Explanations of physiological processes have been simplified. Consult your healthcare provider for evaluation and treatment specific to your needs.

04/20/2026

shared a powerful post today, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. 🤔

She wrote that no one ever taught her how to hold onto the barre.

So she did what so many of us do: she figured it out.

Adjusted her body.
Changed positions.
Made it work in a space that didn’t fully account for her.

And this past weekend, she got to teach a room full of little girls with limb differences how to do it. 🩷

I can’t speak for her experience beyond what she shared, but it highlights something I see often:

☑️ Yes, children can figure things out.
☑️ But that doesn’t mean they should have to do it alone.

This is exactly why I wrote about the hidden cost of “they’ll figure it out.”

Link in bio.

04/16/2026

This weekend was a reminder of what’s possible when lived experience is something to build from, not something to hide. 💞

As both an occupational therapist (OT) and someone with a limb difference, I never imagined this path when I started. I also never imagined how many undergraduate pre-health interns would want to contribute to this community.

This is what supportive community looks like, something I talked about in my last post.

🩷 Families: Your child’s limb difference may shape how they problem-solve, adapt, and move through the world in ways that may surprise you.

🩷 Healthcare students and practitioners: There’s space for you in this work, and many ways to be part of it.

🩷 OT practitioners or students with upper limb differences (acquired or congenital): join our practitioner group — PM me!

I share about raising a child and living with a limb difference here.

Thank you to:
🩵 Aaron Westbrook and Form5 for creating and hosting Limb Difference Day!
🩵 interns Ava D., Ava K., and Kamsi for helping out at the event and Ava D. for making bracelets (with her sister!) and helping with this post
🩵 Trailblazer OT and keynote speaker Gigi Williams + photo credits to her sister Susan
🩵 all the families and organizations who supported Limb Difference Day
🩵 for review & comments
🩵 the many creators and organizations promoting limb difference education and advocacy

04/13/2026

Raising a child with an upper limb difference can feel isolating.

The right community can make a meaningful difference — for your child and for you.

But not all support feels supportive.

It’s okay to be selective about who influences your child.

The right people are out there. Sometimes it just takes time to find them.

👉 read more more in Tip #2 — link: https://ontheotherhand.org/tip-2-upper-limb-difference-community-support

Many thanks to:
🩷 intern Ava D. for creating the slides and alt text
🩷 and .greentree for review & comments
🩷 all of the limb difference creators & orgs

04/12/2026

Parents of young children with limb differences often marvel at their confidence. That's a beautiful thing, and a sign that parents have created an environment of unconditional love. 💞

In the early years, children mostly exist in a kind of “family bubble,” where their limb difference is simply part of their body.

But as children grow, their world expands. They begin to notice differences, peers ask questions, and social awareness increases.
And sometimes, confidence shifts.

That can feel alarming if you’re not expecting it.

But it doesn’t mean something went wrong. It means your child is developing.

One of the challenges of parenting is that just as you understand one stage, your child moves onto the next.

There’s a balance between appreciating who your child is right now and being open to the fact that things may change.

You don’t need to predict everything. But having a sense of what might come next can help you respond with more clarity and support when it does.

Image description: Laura, wearing a pink top, talks directly to to the camera.

Thank you to:
🩵 intern Ava K. for video editing & captioning
🩵 the many creators and organizations promoting limb difference education and advocacy

04/07/2026

Sharing a research opportunity for tweens (ages 10–12) with congenital upper limb differences 🩷

Sarah Tuberty, an occupational therapist and researcher in our community, is looking to speak with tweens about their experiences meeting new people.

Participation includes:
🩵 conversation + drawing
🩵 $20 gift card provided

The tween perspective is often missing in research on congenital upper limb differences — so this is a meaningful opportunity to help develop better supports.

➡️ Please see the next slide for the official study flyer with full details, eligibility, and contact information.

👉 Learn more or enroll here: https://linktr.ee/LimbDifferences.Study

Please feel free to share with families who might be a good fit.

04/01/2026

03/30/2026

Joy doesn’t always show up in big moments. Sometimes it’s in the small things you almost miss. 🩷

Every month, I’m sharing a reflection prompt for parents raising children with disabilities.

Parenting in this community can be beautiful and complicated. These questions are here to help you notice what’s going well, for your child and for you.

✨ This month’s reflection prompt: What’s one thing your child did this month that made you smile or brought you joy?

Share here if you’d like, or keep it private. There’s no right way to participate.

03/26/2026

Is it bullying … or something else? 🤔
It’s hard to know how to respond when something like this happens to your child.
Not every moment is bullying, and understanding these situations changes how you respond.
I break it down and discuss what to do in Part 3 of my bullying series.
👉 Click on the link in my bio: “understanding bullying in upper limb difference”

03/19/2026

Why it matters when a doll looks like you 🧸
For children with limb differences, seeing themselves reflected in a toy isn’t just “cute” — it’s powerful
It builds belonging, confidence, and these messages:
🩵 “I belong”
🩵 “I matter”
🩵 “I’m not the only one”
🩵 “I make sense in this world just as I am”
These moments with adaptive dolls stay with children for years
I wish 5-year-old me had had this kind of representation
➡️ See the full list of limb-different dolls & toys (updated for 2025!) in my new post
➡️ Link in bio for website blog post with product links
Huge thank you to the families who shared these sweet moments and the companies and individuals who creating these toys & dolls: & & &
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!
Image description: two videos of little boys with dolls that look like them. The text overlay says:
- Representation hits different when it’s YOU
- For children with limb differences… this moment matters even more
- These dolls help children feel seen… and proud of who they are
- More limb different dolls & toys → Link in bio 🩷

03/19/2026

If one hand does most of the work in your daily life …
when it starts to hurt, it can be uncomfortable, frustrating, and even a little scary.
This is often an early sign of over
use, and what you do right away can make a big difference.
Here are three ways to respond early:
☑️ Wear a brace.
A simple wrist or thumb brace can reduce strain during daily activities and act as a reminder to protect your hand.
☑️ Take regular breaks.
Stay ahead of pain by stopping every 25 to 30 minutes whatever activity is irritating your hand.
☑️ Calm inflammation.
Ice for short periods (about 10 minutes) or apply a topical anti-inflammatory cream like Voltaren to settle symptoms early.
These aren’t long-term solutions, but they can help prevent a small issue from becoming a bigger one.
If pain continues or worsens, it’s worth being evaluated by a healthcare professional.
👉 Free upper limb difference overuse syndrome handouts:🔗 link in bio
Follow along for more overuse prevention and upper limb difference information
I am an occupational therapist, not a medical doctor. This is general education, not individualized medical advice. Please consult a healthcare practitioner if you’re unsure what’s best for your body.
Image description: Laura shows 3 strategies for managing hand pain: putting on a splint while typing, setting a timer while typing, and icing her arm using a frozen gel pack.

Thank you to:
🩷 .greentree for videoing 🎥
🩷 the many creators and organizations promoting limb difference education and advocacy

03/12/2026

Tip #1 of 13: take care of yourself 🩷

Raising a child with an upper limb difference is a long journey. It includes joy, growth, advocacy, appointments, decision-making, and emotional labor.

Sustainable parenting and caregiving requires support, but it doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate.

It can look like:

🩵 one trusted person who listens
🩵 a few quiet minutes to think
🩵 honest conversations about how to share responsibilities
🩵 consistent sleep when possible
🩵 small daily practices that steady your nervous system

Being intentional about incorporating self care and pacing into your daily routines can help for the long haul.

You do not have to carry everything alone or do it perfectly. Save this as a reminder.

👇 read more — link in comment below

Many thanks to:
🩷 intern Ava D. for creating the slides and alt text
🩷 intern Oly for assistance with the website blogpost
🩷 and .greentree for review & comments
🩷 all of the limb difference creators & orgs