What Actually Is Therapy Putty?
Therapy putty is a soft, malleable resistance tool used to strengthen hand and finger muscles, improve fine motor skills, and support rehabilitation. Similar in texture to modeling clay, it’s widely used in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and home exercise programs. Therapy putty is also popular for stress relief and sensory integration, especially for individuals with sensory processing challenges.
Benefits of Therapy Putty
Strengthens Hand & Finger Muscles
Therapy putty provides variable resistance that challenges muscles during squeezing, pinching, stretching, and rolling exercises—ideal for building grip strength, wrist stability, and finger mobility.
Improves Fine Motor Skills
Using therapy putty enhances coordination and dexterity needed for daily tasks like writing, buttoning shirts, or tying shoelaces.
Aids in Hand Rehabilitation
Commonly prescribed after hand surgery, injury, or for conditions like arthritis or carpal tunnel, therapy putty supports safe recovery and muscle reactivation.
Color-Coded Resistance Levels
Putty is available in graded resistance levels—typically color-coded from extra soft to extra firm—to suit different strength levels and support gradual progression.
Offers Sensory & Stress Relief
The tactile input from handling therapy putty has a calming effect. It’s used in sensory therapy to regulate focus and as a stress-relief tool for both kids and adults.
Highly Versatile
Whether used in clinical settings or at home, therapy putty is suitable for a wide range of hand therapy exercises, motor skill training, and even as a fidget tool to promote concentration.
Common Uses of Therapy Putty
Grip Strengthening – Squeeze and pinch to build hand power.
Range of Motion Training – Roll and stretch to improve flexibility and joint mobility.
Dexterity Drills – Hide small objects in the putty to encourage fine finger movements.
Fidgeting – Keep hands busy and the mind focused in classroom or office settings.
Home Exercise Programs – Extend therapy beyond the clinic with daily routines.
Why Are There Different Resistance Levels?
Therapy putty is designed with graded resistance levels to accommodate every stage of hand strength and rehabilitation:
Resistance Level-Description-Ideal For
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Extra Soft-Minimal resistance-Early recovery, arthritis.
Soft-Light resistance-Low strength, mobility exercises.
Medium-Moderate resistance-General strengthening.
Firm-High resistance-Advanced rehab, muscle building.
Extra Firm-Maximum resistance-Athletes, peak grip strength.
Resistance Levels, Colors, Choosing The Right One
Yellow, Tan / Peach (Extra Soft): Ideal for beginners, those with mild weakness, or for progressing from no resistance.
Red (Soft): Suitable for continued development of hand strength and coordination, and for those with moderate weakness.
Green (Medium): Commonly used in clinics and schools, providing enough resistance for effective workouts while remaining easy to manipulate.
Blue (Firm): Suitable for older children, teens, or adults needing a higher challenge or for progressing clients.
Black (Extra Firm): Offers maximum resistance and is often used with adolescents or those needing heavy work for calming and focus.
Benefits of Graded Resistance
Personalized Progression – Start light and build strength gradually without risking strain or injury.
Therapist Approved – Resistance can be tailored to individual goals and recovery stages.
Engaging Variety – More options keep exercises interesting and effective.
Injury Prevention – Prevents strain by progressing safely through strength levels.
Is There An American Made Brand Of Therapy Putty?
Yes, CanDo Therapy Putty, aka Theraputty, is made in the United States, and we have visited the manufacturing facility in New York to verify its authenticity. We wanted to make sure that the materials used are of the highest quality since it is held in the hands for extended periods of time. It is because of this fact that it is the only brand of therapy putty we carry and you can see it here: CanDo Theraputty
Final Thoughts
Therapy putty is a simple, effective, and affordable tool used for hand therapy, motor skill development, stress relief, and grip strength improvement. Its versatility and portability make it ideal for all ages and therapy levels — whether you're recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition, enhancing hand strength, or looking for some simple stress relief. Trusted by physical and occupational therapists alike, it’s a must-have for rehabilitation and everyday use.