If you’ve recently undergone hand surgery, you know that the road to recovery can be long and difficult. Whether you had hand surgery for carpal tunnel, to repair a soft tissue injury, or for another hand procedure, giving your hands the time and therapy they need to heal after surgery is crucial.
There are some things you can do to help speed up the healing process and get back to using your hands as soon as possible. One of the most important things you can do is to participate in hand therapy exercises. These exercises are designed to help improve your hand’s range of motion and increase strength. They can also help to reduce swelling and improve circulation.
In this blog from The Vu Center, a premier plastic surgery office in Beaverton, Oregon, we will discuss four common hand therapy exercises, explaining how to do them and how they help you heal post-surgery. Keep reading to learn more, and contact us today if you have questions about, are interested in, or recently had hand surgery and are in need of assistance.
Wrist Bends
Wrist bends are a great post-surgery hand therapy exercise that can help improve the range of motion in your hands. By bending your wrists back and forth, you can help to stretch out the muscles and tendons in your hands and fingers. This exercise is also great for helping to increase the blood flow to your hands, which can help to speed up the healing process.
To do wrist bends, simply extend your arm in front of you with your palm facing down. Bend your wrist back as far as you can, then return to the starting position. Repeat this motion ten to fifteen times, then switch to bending your wrist forward, and again, repeat. You can do this exercise several times per day.
Finger Bends
Finger bends are one of the most important exercises you can do to help heal your hand after surgery. By bending your fingers, you help keep the joints in your hand healthy, flexible, and mobile. This exercise also helps to stretch and strengthen the muscles and tendons in your hand.
To do a finger bend, simply hold your hand out in front of you with the fingers extended. Slowly bend all of your fingers down towards the palm of your hand, then back up to the starting position. You can also do finger bends one finger at a time. Repeat this exercise about ten to fifteen times per day.
Hand Clenches
Hand clenches are a type of therapy exercise that can help you regain strength and range of motion after carpal tunnel surgery. After surgery, your hands may be weak and sore. But by doing hand clenches and making fists, you can also help reduce swelling and improve blood circulation.
There are two ways to practice hand clenches. One way is to grip a softball or tennis ball in your hand and squeeze it as hard as you can for five to ten seconds, and repeat about ten times. Alternatively, you can simply make a tight fist, hold for five to ten seconds, and then release, also repeating ten times. Be careful when clenching your fist without a ball if you have long fingernails.
Tabletop Position
After hand surgery or carpal tunnel surgery, patients are often left with reduced range of motion and function in their hand. Doing what’s commonly known as the tabletop position is a form of hand therapy that can help improve the range of motion and function, as well as grip strength and dexterity.
There are a couple of effective ways to practice the tabletop hand therapy position. The first way is by placing your hands on a tabletop and moving your fingers in a circular or wave-like motion.
Another way is to place your palm flat on a table with your fingers pointing straight ahead. Next, slowly lift all of your fingers and thumb up until they are pointing as much toward the ceiling as you can point them. Hold this position for three to five seconds before returning to the starting position. Repeat ten to fifteen times per day.
By doing these four hand therapy exercises, you can feel more confident about your healing process post-hand surgery. If you’re having trouble doing these exercises on your own, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Oregon surgeons at The Vu Center in Beaverton for assistance. Get in touch with us today!