Exercises for the wrist
Information for patients
NHS Lanarkshire Hand Therapy Department
PIL.WRIST.22_05768.L
Wrist Exercises
Always exercise gently and slowly. Hold your position at your end of range for a few seconds, unless specified otherwise. Discuss any concerns with your therapist.
Active Exercises:
1. Forearm on a table, fist clenched, move your wrist up and down:
2. Forearm on a table, move your wrist up and down:
3. Supination (“palm facing up”) and pronation (“palm facing down”) : Keeping your shoulder and elbow and at the side of your body, turn your forearm so your palm is facing up and then down.
4. Forearm and hand flat on a table, move your hand sideways: Ulnar (“on the little finger side”) and radial (“on the thumb side”) deviation.
Passive exercises:
5. Place your hands together as if “praying” then lower down until you feel a gentle stretch.
Keep the palms together:
6. Place your hand flat on the table and move your forearm up:
7. Place your elbow on the table and use your other hand to push on the back of the affected hand:
8. Use your other hand to turn your forearm so the palm is facing up:
9. Use your other hand to turn your forearm so the palm is facing down:
10. Hand over the edge of a table, thumb facing upwards, use your other hand to push your hand down:
11. With your elbow straight, use your other hand to bend your wrist up and down. Do not over stretch the big knuckles:
Pub. date: March 2022
Review date: March 2024
Issue No: 01
Reference: PIL.WRIST.22_05768.L
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