All posts by Therapro

Movement and Strength for Mental Health

October 13, 2025Motor & Movement, Therapist Resourcesoccupational therapy (OT) tools, physical therapy (PT), product spotlight, therapist resourcesTherapro

Each year on October 10, the world recognizes World Mental Health Day, an important reminder of the need to support emotional well-being across all ages and abilities. Research consistently shows that movement and mental health are deeply connected—physical activity not only strengthens the body but also boosts mood, reduces stress, and fosters resilience. For therapists, educators, and parents, incorporating purposeful movement and strength-building activities into daily routines can be a powerful way to promote both physical and emotional wellness.

Why Movement Matters for Mental Health

Exercise stimulates the release of endorphins, improves focus, and helps regulate emotions. For children and adults alike, structured movement activities can provide healthy coping strategies, reduce anxiety, and build confidence. In therapeutic and educational settings, using the right tools can transform simple exercises into opportunities for engagement, regulation, and growth.

Tools to Support Strength and Emotional Well-Being

Therapro offers a wide range of resources in its Strength & Fitness category designed to integrate movement into therapy and learning environments. Here are three effective tools that promote both strength and mental health:

Compression Tube – This stretchy, enclosed fabric provides calming deep pressure and encourages creative movement, making it an excellent choice for self-regulation and sensory integration.

TheraBand Resistance Bands – Lightweight and versatile, these bands help build strength, endurance, and flexibility while giving clients an accessible tool for stress relief through movement.

Weighted Balls – Perfect for tossing, lifting, and core exercises, these tools add resistance that can improve both physical strength and emotional regulation.

Putting It Into Practice

Whether used in occupational or physical therapy sessions, classrooms, or at home, strength and movement-based activities can help clients of all ages build confidence, reduce stress, and foster a sense of accomplishment. By pairing intentional movement with supportive tools, therapists and caregivers can empower individuals to take meaningful steps toward better mental health.

This World Mental Health Day, let’s recognize the role of movement in emotional wellness and use therapeutic tools that support both mind and body.

Tips for Choosing Your Pencil Grip from Gail Kushnir, MA OT, B.Ed

February 22, 2021Handwritingoccupational therapy (OT) tools, parent resources, pencil gripTherapro

On February 2, 2020 Therapro was happy to host another successful webinar, Let’s Do It Write! Writing Readiness presented by Gail Kushnir, MA OT, B.Ed. During this webinar many writing readiness topics were discussed including the use of pencil grips. Gail noted the purpose of a pencil grip is to provide maximum support to the child in order to allow skill, stamina, and speed while handwriting. With a vast array of grips available, choosing the right one can be a daunting task. Gail simplified the process with these basic rules:

Too much pressure… use a soft grip like The Pencil Grip. This soft, molded grip encourages a natural writing position while minimizing finger strain.

Best For: Children and adults needing general support for a dynamic tripod grasp

Pros:

Versatile; works for left and right-handers
Comfortable for extended writing

Cons:

Less structured than other training grips
May not correct more severe grip issues

Ergonomic pencil grip tool for improving handwriting comfort and control

Too much flexibility and instability….use a grip with firm support like the Bulb Grip. The Bulb-Shaped Grip features a round, bulbous design that encourages a natural grasp by positioning the fingers comfortably around the soft contour. It’s especially helpful for young children or those struggling with developing hand strength and control.

Best For: Emerging writers who need substantial support to develop fine motor coordination

Pros:

Promotes a relaxed grip
Offers excellent tactile feedback
Great for children with low tone or motor planning challenges

Cons:

Bulky; may not fit all pencil sizes
May not support finger isolation as precisely as more structured grips

Tremors….use a weighted grip at the top of the pencil and The Pencil Grip near the point. Weights add subtle weight to the pencil, improving feedback and hand control.

Best For: Students with tremors, poor proprioception, or sensory processing challenges.

Pros:

Enhances body awareness
Can reduce tremors or shaky writing

Cons:

Heavier than standard grips
May cause fatigue if overused

Ectopic Dermatitis or physical anomalies….use a tube that increases the circumference of the pencil. This foam tubing can be cut to size and slipped over a pencil to create a larger, cushioned grip. It’s especially useful for clients with arthritis, decreased grip strength, or tactile sensitivity. Unlike traditional pre-formed grips, this option offers full-barrel coverage, enhancing stability and comfort.

Best For: Individuals needing a custom or wider grip diameter for improved comfort and control.

Pros:

Customizable fit and length
Lightweight and soft
Ideal for users with joint pain or limited fine motor coordination

Cons:

Less structured; doesn’t guide finger placement
May not appeal to users needing visual or tactile prompts for finger positioning

In most situations, a slanted surface is crucial! Slant boards promote an optimal writing angle, encouraging better wrist extension, upright posture, and proper eye-hand alignment. When used in combination with the right pencil grip, slant boards reduce fatigue and support more controlled, legible handwriting. Therapro offers a range of options—collapsible, adjustable, rigid, and lightweight—to meet the diverse needs of students and clients.

Best For: Enhancing posture, visual tracking, and hand positioning during writing tasks

Pros:

Promotes ergonomic writing posture
Improves line of sight and reduces neck strain
Supports hand and wrist positioning for improved fine motor control

Cons:

Bulky to transport (depending on the model)
May require space considerations in smaller classrooms

Still not sure, check out Therapro’s Get a Grip on Grips Handy Guide!

Feifer Assessment of Writing

January 11, 2021Assessments, Handwritinghandwriting, occupational therapy (OT) toolsTherapro

The Feifer Assessment of Writing (FAW) goes beyond standard handwriting measures to help practitioners truly understand the factors contributing to handwriting difficulty. The FAW allows practitioners to answer the “why”! By understanding the factors contributing to handwriting difficulty, practitioners are better equipped to develop treatment plans that are efficient and that adequately address the underlying cause of difficulty.

Feifer Assessment of Writing: What’s Measured?

The FAW is comprised of ten subtests (and two additional, optional, subtests) designed to identify and differentiate among the three subtypes of dysgraphia. The subsets are: (*indicates subtest used in the Feifer Assessment of Writing Screening Form (FAW-SF))

Alphabet Tracing Fluency*
Motor Sequencing*
Copying Speed
Motor Planning
Executive Working Memory*
Isolated Spelling*
Retrieval Fluency
Sentence Scaffolding
Homophone Spelling
Expository Writing
Copy Editing (optional)
Story Mapping (optional)

FAW vs. FAW-SF

	FW	FAW-SF
Purpose	A diagnostic achievement test used to examine the underlying processes that support written language skills in order to identify the presence of a written language disorder and to identify the specific subtype of dysgraphia.	Identify children at risk for developmental dysgraphia Can be used as progress monitoring tool
Key Areas of Focus	Three subtypes of written language disorder: Graphomotor dysgraphiaDyslexia dysgraphiaExecutive dysgraphia	K-1st grade: Graphomotor demands of the writing process Grade 2 & above: Cognitive-linguistic demands of the writing process
Age Range	Pre-K- College	Grades kindergarten through college
Time	Pre-Kindergarten: 15 minutesGrades K- 1: 20 minutes Grades 2+: 55-65 minutes	K-1st grade:15-20 minuteGrades 2 and above: 20 minutes

Scores Yielded	Provides an overall Total Index & three target index scoresGraphomotor IndexDyslexic IndexExecutive Index	Proves a single index score that indicates the risk for dysgraphia or a written language learning disability and the need for further assessment.