Advanced Wrist and Hand Tendon Repair Rehabilitation

Advanced Wrist and Hand Tendon Repair Rehabilitation — 4-Week Program

This program is for people recovering from wrist and hand tendon repair who are ready for a more advanced, supervised course of rehabilitation, including those with carpal tunnel or distal radius involvement. Its goal is to gradually restore wrist and hand motion, strength, grip function, and safe return to everyday and light work activities over four weeks while protecting the healing tendon.

Before You Start

Your surgeon or supervising clinician should confirm you are ready for this level of activity. Because of your clot (DVT) risk, you should follow your medical team's specific guidance on activity, hydration, and any compression or medication instructions—this guide does not replace that advice. Keep your spine neutral during exercises, always warm up first, and avoid overloading the healing wrist. Stop and call your clinician if you notice sudden pain, swelling, new calf pain or leg swelling, chest pain, shortness of breath, a snap or pop in the wrist, or loss of the ability to bend a finger.

Weekly Structure

The plan runs four weeks with two sessions per week, about 45 minutes each, using your wrist splint, pull-up bar, elliptical, rower, dip station, and therapy modalities. Week 1 is protected motion, week 2 adds early active motion, week 3 progresses loading, and week 4 focuses on strengthening and function. Your therapist moves you forward only when you meet the phase criteria safely and comfortably.

What a Typical Session Looks Like

Each session begins with a warm-up, including moist heat (introduced after week 2) and gentle elliptical or rower work at an easy pace, keeping your spine neutral. The main work includes ultrasound and electrical stimulation as directed, wrist and finger mobility, tendon gliding, kinesiology taping for nerve glide, and graded strengthening using light pull-up bar holds or dip-station support as tolerated. Cool-down includes gentle stretching and settling the wrist, with your splint worn at night during weeks 1–2.

Tracking Progress

Progression between phases depends on meeting the listed criteria—such as range of motion, grip and pinch strength, stable nerve symptoms, and healed incision—confirmed by your therapist. Outcome measures like the Jamar dynamometer, pinch gauge, goniometry, and questionnaires (Boston Carpal Tunnel, DASH, Michigan Hand) are repeated to show trends, not to self-grade. Never push to the next phase on your own; your clinician decides when it is safe.

Recovery and Self-Care

Expect some soreness, but sharp pain, increasing swelling, numbness that worsens at night, or new weakness are reasons to pause and check in with your clinician. Rest between sessions, keep the wrist supported as advised, avoid gripping or loading too much too soon, and report any calf pain, leg swelling, or breathing changes promptly given your clot risk.