Occupational Therapy: Detailed Analysis of Ponytail Activity

This presentation provides an occupational therapy analysis of the task of putting hair into a ponytail. It identifies the deltoid muscles and forearm muscles (infraspinatus, teres major/minor, subscapularis, latissimus dorsi, and pectoralis major) as crucial for the activity. Goniometric measurements are provided for shoulder extension/flexion and abduction, elbow abduction and extension, forearm pronation, wrist extension and radial deviation, and finger abduction/extension and thumb flexion. The presentation outlines the strength required for the two-joint movement and details the proper positioning for the client. The presentation concludes by emphasizing the importance of seated positioning, table distance, shoulder and elbow positioning, and forearm pronation for optimal task performance.

Occupational therapy
-PRESENTED BY:

Two important joint movements
to accomplish the activity:
The two important muscles that are
involved in the occupational activity of
putting the hair in a ponytail include:
The Deltoid muscles that assist the
side-lifting of arms and shoulder flexion
The forearm muscles that include the
infraspinatus, Teres Major, Teres Minor,
subscapularis, Latissimus Dorsi and
Pectoralis Major

Goniometric measurement:
 Shoulder:
 Extension and forward flexion
 40% abduction of the shoulder
 Elbow:
 Abducted and extended forward at 45 degrees
 Forearm:
 Pronation of the forearm
 Wrist:
 Extension of the wrist
 10 degrees radial deviation
 Fingers:
 Abduction and Extension of the fingers at 80 degrees
 Flexion in the thumb

Strength required to complete
two-joint movement
 The client must be seated in a
comfortable and upright position in a chair
 The client should be made to face a table,
ideally kept at a distance of 10cm from
the trunk at the waist height of the client
 Shoulders must be kept at the side of the
trunk
 The elbows should be slightly flexed
 The forearms should be pronated to make
both the palms face down

Continued
 The right wrist must be at a neutral
position
 The fingers must be relaxed with
flexed joints and thumb abducted
and extended
 The hair brush and the hair tie must
be picked up with the use of the
pectoral girdle of the hand

References:
Foti, D. I. A. N. E., & Koketsu, J. S. (2013). Activities of daily
living. Pedretti’s occupational therapy: Practical skills for physical
dysfunction, 7, 157-232.
O’BRIEN, J. C., & SOLOMON, J. W. (2013). 10 Teaching and Learning Motor
Performance in Occupational Therapy. Physical Dysfunction Practice
Skills for the Occupational Therapy Assistant-E-Book, 174.

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