Hand Exercises for After Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Welcome to the modern world, filled with mountains of information and an endless number of screens. And there is only one way to tap into it: with a mouse and keyboard. Every day, millions of Americans spend hours in front of their monitor, either for business or for pleasure (and likely both). Over the years, repeated use of a keyboard or a mouse can lead to a condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome.

In some extreme cases, carpal tunnel can eventually require surgery. As you recover, you will need to undergo a regimen of physical therapy to get back to normal. For that, you’ll need to do some work. Here are some common post-carpal tunnel surgery hand exercises in Napa County, CA.

Wrist extension

Hold your arm straight in front of you, palm out. Using the other hand, gently apply pressure to your fingertips until you feel a stretch. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds.

This activity should be completed four to five times a day, especially before physical activity.

Wrist flexion

This is essentially the opposite of the wrist extension. Once again, hold your arm out in front of you. This time, put your palm down, facing your body. Using your other hand, gently apply pressure until you feel a stretch. Hold it for 15 seconds.

Like the wrist extension, this post-carpal tunnel surgery hand exercise in Napa County, CA, should be completed four to five times a day, especially before activity.

The glides

As you rebuild your hand strength, your physical therapist will likely ask you to complete a series of gestures meant to strengthen your nerves and tendons. Before beginning this regimen, apply heat to your hand for 15 minutes. Upon completion of the exercises, apply a bag of frozen peas to your hand for 20 minutes:

• Make a fist. Extend your fingers while keeping your thumb close to your hand. Keeping your fingers straight, extend your wrist. Extend your thumb outward. Turn your palm up and use your other hand to gently stretch your thumb.
• Put your hand in front of you, wrist straight, with your fingers extended. Curl your fingers downward (like you’re checking your nails). Slowly continue the curl until you make a fist.
• With your hand straight in front of you, flatten your fingers (to create a tabletop with your hand). Bend the fingers at your middle knuckle and slowly curl your hand into a fist.

You should do five to 10 reps of these activities three to five times a day until you are back up to strength.

Find out more

With a little guidance and the right hand exercises, you can get back to normal after hand surgery through physical therapy in Napa County, CA. Focus Forward Wellness & Physical Therapy wants to be the team to help you get there. We offer a vast array of services for nearly any physical injury. Whether it’s repetitive stress, a sports injury, issues related to aging or any of a number of other problems, we can get you back on track. Pick up the phone and give us a call today.

Categorised in: Home Exercise

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