Guided hand therapy exercises
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13 / 13 exercises
- Edema GentleHand · Wrist
Edema elevation & pump
Elevate the hand above the heart and gently open and close the fingers to encourage fluid movement.
Prep: No special equipment
~3 minStart - Strength ProgressiveFingers · Hand
Finger spread with elastic band
Spread the fingers against a light looped band to wake up the small extensors that balance grip.
Prep: Rubber band / elastic loop
~2 minStart - Mobility GentleForearm · Wrist
Forearm rotation (pronation & supination)
Turn the palm down and up while the elbow stays steady — a staple motion for forks, doorknobs, and tools.
Prep: Stick, dowel, or pen (rotation aid)
~2 minStart - Mobility GentleForearm · Wrist
Gentle wrist flexor stretch (palm up)
With the forearm supported and palm up, ease the wrist toward extension to stretch the front of the forearm — common after typing or gripping.
Prep: No special equipment
~2 minStart - Mobility GentleFingers
Intrinsic-plus stretch
Hold the big knuckles bent and the smaller finger joints straight to lengthen the small intrinsic muscles of the hand — used after stiffness from immobilization or burns.
Prep: No special equipment
~2 minStart - Nerve mobility GentleFingers · Forearm · Wrist
Median nerve glide
Encourage healthy median nerve mobility with a slow sequence of wrist and finger positions. Never push into symptoms.
Prep: No special equipment
~3 minStart - Sensory GentleScar / tissue
Scar desensitization
Progress through textures — from soft to firmer — to help the nervous system tolerate touch around healed scars.
Prep: Cloth or texture swatches
~2 minStart - Strength ModerateForearm · Hand
Soft grip squeeze
Use a soft ball, sock, or therapy putty for gentle progressive grip work — only when symptoms are stable.
Prep: Soft ball, sock, or therapy putty
~3 minStart - Mobility GentleFingers · Palm
Tendon glides
Move the finger tendons through their full range with five gentle hand positions to reduce stiffness and adhesions.
Prep: No special equipment
~3 minStart - Mobility GentleThumb
Thumb IP flexion isolation
Hold the thumb’s base joint still and bend only the tip — a focused glide for the flexor pollicis longus tendon used after thumb tendon repair or stiffness.
Prep: No special equipment
~2 minStart - Dexterity GentleFingers · Thumb
Thumb opposition
Touch the tip of each finger with the thumb to rebuild fine motor control for buttons, keys, and writing.
Prep: No special equipment
~2 minStart - Nerve mobility GentleFingers · Wrist
Ulnar nerve glide (gentle)
Slowly floss the ulnar nerve pathway with small wrist and finger changes. Stop if ring or small-finger numbness ramps up.
Prep: No special equipment
~3 minStart - Mobility GentleWrist
Wrist range of motion
Slow wrist movements through bend, extend, and side-to-side to maintain comfortable joint mobility.
Prep: No special equipment
~3 minStart