OOPS REHABILITATION
HAND - GENTLE

REST / MASSAGE / TAPE 

DO NOT USE AFTER HAND SURGERY. ONLY USE PROTOCOLS PROVIDED BY HAND SURGEON / HAND PHYSIOTHERAPIST / HAND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST For other hand injuries. Avoid painful movements. Follow exercise instructions carefully so as not to exacerbate pain. Reduce the amount of activity so that pain is not induced. 
Massage Hand
For hand swelling.
Place effected hand on table. With opposite hand, fingers flat, stroke down along back of hand to forearm. Repeat 20 strokes.
Repeat same with the effected hand palm up.
Do 5x each side.
3 times daily.
Massage Fingers
For finger swelling.
Resting through the elbow, hold the forearm and hand straight up. Using the Thumb and index finger of the other hand, gently 'strip' the swollen finger from the finger tip to the base, front and back, side and side.
Repeat for 1 minute, every hour. 
Finger Compressions
For reducing swelling in an individual finger.
Beginning at the top of the finger, wrap a string in a firm comfortable spiral down to the base. Unwrap immediately. If you noticed the tip of the finger had turned very dark, apply with less tightness.
Repeat 10 x every hour or two. 
Finger Taping
For an individual finger sprain, tape the finger to the next finger in a slightly flexed position.

MOBILITY & STRENGTH

Perform all movements, slowly and within comfortable limits - stop as soon as you are feeling the pain increase.
Finger Wrist Extension
Hand flat down, pull fingers and wrist up and back until mild discomfort. Hold 10 seconds. Rest.
Repeat 10x.
5 sets daily.

Finger Curls.
With wrist straight, curl fingers in to palm until mild discomfort. Then straighten fingers.
Repeat 20x, every two hours.
Tendon Flexor/Extensor glides.
Supporting forearm, slowly and gently curl fingers towards palm while bending wrist forward. Stop at mild discomfort. Straighten fingers out and bend wrist back. Stop at mild discomfort. Repeat each way 20x, 5 sets daily. 
Thumb Flexion.
Hand on edge, curl thumb towards base of 5th finger until discomfort. Repeat 20x, 3-5 sets per day
Thumb Opposition.
Hand upward, rotate thumb from beside index finger, outward and around across palm to base of 5th finger until discomfort. Repeat 20x, 3-5 sets per day.
Grasp
Make a tight fist. Hold 10 seconds. Stretch fingers out. Repeat 10x, 5 sets daily

EVERY 2 OR 3 DAYS RETURN TO HAND ASSESSMENT TO CHECK ON YOUR IMPROVEMENT, AS BY THE LINK BELOW, AND, AS FUNCTION IMPROVES, FOLLOW THE GUIDE TO ADVANCE YOUR REHABILITATION.

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Acute Hand Recovery 

Hand Assessment