However, even if your loved one is confined to the bed, there are a few exercises that he or she can do to have some amount of mobility on a daily basis, without being uncomfortable.

Here are a few hand and arm exercises that a bedridden patient can carry out with ease. Even though all the exercises mentioned here are extremely safe, make sure you first speak to your doctor or therapist and get a go-ahead before performing them.

The palm stretch exercise is a very basic and simple exercise that the patient can do while lying down or sitting up in bed. It helps to build up the tolerance and assist in mobility.

  • Take your hand and bring it close to your body.
  • Open your palm and extend all your fingers for a few seconds. You should start to feel the stretch in the root of your fingers.
  • Now start touching each finger separately to your thumb.
  • Do the same using your other hand.
  • Repeat the exercise a few times with both the hands a few times each day.

The arm lift exercise is a great way to improve overall strength in the arm, and the patient can do it independently, or with the help of a caregiver.

  • You can do the exercise while lying down or sitting up in bed.
  • Lift one arm over your head as high as you can and keep it there for about 10 seconds. Bring it down slowly and repeat the same with the other arm.
  • For those patients who are able to do it with ease, increase the amount of time that you hold out the arm for.
  • For those patients who are not able to do the exercise with ease, you can place your upper arm on the bed and simply lift the elbow to form a 90-degree angle.

The wrist rotation exercise will need a little bit more strength and are a great way to improve mobility and flexibility.

  • Place your palm in a palm down position on the bed.
  • Start rotating your wrist towards your small finger in such a way that the side of the thumb part of the hand moves up from the bed.
  • Now move the hand in the opposite direction in such a way that the little finger side of the hand moves up from the bed.
  • Do these steps and hold each position for at least 10 to 15 seconds.
  • Make sure that during the exercise, your forearm remains firmly on the bed.

The ankle plantarflexion-dorsiflexion exercise will help you to improve your overall range of motion, and also help to increase and improve blood circulation in your ankles.

  • Lie down on the bed on your back.
  • For this exercise, you will need the help of your caregiver. Ask the person to hold your ankle and the heel. Next, your caregiver will have to bend your foot forward and hold it there for a few seconds, till you feel the stretch.
  • Next, your caregiver will have to slowly push your foot upward and bring it back to the original position.
  • Repeat the steps with the other leg.

The leg lift exercise is only recommended for those bedridden patients who are in overall good health and are strong enough to do the particular steps.

  • Lie down on the bed on your back.
  • Slowly start to bring your leg upwards towards the hip joint. Now hold it in place for about 10 to 20 seconds.
  • Bring it down slowly to the starting position.
  • Now repeat the same steps with the other leg.
  • If you are strong enough and can do the steps without feeling too tired or any pain or discomfort, try doing the leg lift exercise at least a few times a day.

The single leg hip lift exercise will help to prevent muscle atrophy, a condition that affects muscles when they are not being used, as in the case of bedridden patients.

  • Lie down on the bed on your back.
  • Keep one leg in a bent position with the foot lying on the bed, while the other leg has to be straight.
  • Now lift your hips up from the bed by applying force on the muscles of the bent leg. Hold the position for a while.
  • Return to the start position and repeat with the other leg by changing the position.

The hamstring stretch exercise will help to stretch the muscles and prevent them from shortening, a condition that can affect bedridden patients.

  • Lie down on the bed on your back. You will require the assistance of the caregiver for this particular exercise.
  • Ask the caregiver to lift one leg and take it towards your chest. The knee has to be straight.
  • Hold the position for 20 to 30 seconds.
  • Bring the leg back to the original position and repeat with the other leg.

Here are some ways in which you can help to prevent infections in a bedridden patient:

  • Examine the patient daily.
  • Use a water or air bed to make sure the body weight is distributed evenly on the mattress.
  • Use antiseptic cleaning agents to prevent infection. Make sure the patient is properly dried after every bath or cleaning session.

Here are some ways in which you can care for a bedridden patient:

  • Look for bed sores and take measures to prevent the same.
  • Change the bed linen each day, multiple number of times if required.
  • Make sure to take care of the patient’s personal hygiene, such as brushing, combing, trimming etc.
  • Frequently change the patient’s position, preferably after every 2 hours.
  • While feeding, help to prop up the patient to avoid any choking or spilling.

Looking after a bedridden patient can be exhausting on the family members, so you can enlist the help of a professional caregiver for the same, who has the right experience and training.

You can book an appointment with a Care24 caregiver to know more.