Intermediate Wrist and Hand Tendon Repair Rehabilitation

Program Overview — Intermediate Wrist and Hand Tendon Repair Rehabilitation

This four-week, intermediate-level program is designed for people recovering from a surgically repaired wrist or hand tendon who have completed initial protective care and are ready to build mobility and strength. The goal is to gradually restore wrist and hand movement, improve grip, reduce swelling, and help you return to everyday activities safely. Your therapist will guide each phase and adjust the plan to your healing, so progress stays steady without overloading the repair.

Before You Start

Check with your therapist before beginning or advancing any exercise. Do not start if you have signs of compartment syndrome (severe, worsening pain, tightness, or numbness), active acute inflammation, an unassessed limited range of motion, or a known risk of deep vein thrombosis. Use the wrist splint in a neutral position between sessions as directed. Stop and call your clinician if pain sharply increases, swelling worsens, you feel new numbness or tingling, or the hand changes color or temperature.

Weekly Structure

The plan runs four weeks at five sessions per week, about thirty minutes each, using a cable machine and dip station alongside putty, rubber balls, and splinting. Weeks move in stages: early protection and gentle motion, then controlled mobility and tendon gliding, then progressive range of motion, and finally strengthening with functional tasks. Each stage has clear targets your therapist uses to decide when you're ready to move forward.

What a Typical Session Looks Like

A session usually starts with a gentle warm-up: light finger and wrist movements, soft putty squeezes, and, once cleared, easy cable-machine pulls kept light. The main work focuses on that week's goals — tendon gliding, range-of-motion drills, and progressive resistance. Cool-down includes gentle stretching, contrast baths for swelling, and returning to your neutral wrist splint. Dip-station work is introduced only when your therapist confirms it is safe for your stage.

Tracking Progress

Your therapist compares your measurements against each phase's targets — such as swelling reduction, pain-free wrist angles, grip strength relative to your other side, and tolerance of nerve gliding — before advancing you. Outcome measures like the Jamar dynamometer, goniometry, the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire, and the Patient-Specific Functional Scale track change over time and guide safe progression.

Recovery and Self-Care

Expect some soreness, but sharp or rising pain is a signal to ease off. Rest the hand between sessions, keep the splint on as advised, and elevate for swelling. Avoid overloading and keep your spine neutral during exercises. Seek urgent care for severe escalating pain, marked swelling, new numbness, or color or temperature changes in the hand.