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Hand and wrist rehabilitation after injury
A guide to hand and wrist injuries selected for nonsurgical treatment. The topics distinguish the type of injury, not just the location of pain.
Problems an orthopaedic surgeon assesses in this area
The topics below provide an overview. Detailed exercise protocols are being developed as separate pages; these summaries are not complete exercise programmes.
Distal radius fracture
Restoring function after a wrist fracture treated without surgery. Healing and permitted loading determine the scope of activity.
Metacarpal fractures
Restoring hand function following metacarpal fractures treated without surgery. Fracture location, alignment and stability, and adjacent finger function, matter.
Finger fractures
A separate group of finger injuries that requires attention to the particular phalanx and joint involvement. One programme does not suit every finger fracture.
Finger joint sprains
Stable finger ligament injuries selected for nonsurgical care. Protection and restoration of movement must match the injury.
Mallet finger treated without surgery
Injury to the extensor mechanism at the fingertip joint. This requires specific protection; a general hand exercise set should not replace the prescribed management.
What to prepare before planning rehabilitation
Identify whether the main difficulty is wrist movement, bending the fingers, precision grip or thumb use. Hand rehabilitation considers how symptoms relate to specific everyday tasks.
Prepare the injury date, diagnosis and instructions about protection, movement and loading. Time elapsed alone does not mean every activity is permitted. Your treating team’s individual instructions take priority.
Author: Tomasz Poboży - orthopaedic surgeon, MD, PhD. Educational information; it does not replace individual assessment and advice.