After You've Seen the Hand Surgeon - What to Expect Following Your Procedure

Strengthening your hand and gaining back your range of motion are some of the most important parts of the rehabilitation process after you have had surgery. There are some easily performed drills that you can do, either on your own or with a therapist, in order to make your hand stronger and to increase flexibility. By following a regimen on a daily basis, the flexibility of your fingers and hands will greatly improve. The most important thing to keep in mind is to learn the exercises from you physical therapist when you do them for the first time and consult your hand surgeon to be sure that they are appropriate for you and the procedure you've had.Some exercises you may be introduced to or may decide to use are as follows. These are only a few of a wide range of movements available, and each one depends upon the procedure you've had done.- As much as you can do it without pain, bend your fingers and put your thumb in front of your fingers on your newly repaired hand, essentially forming a rigid fist. Hold this position for 2-3 seconds, and then fan out your fingers as far apart as you are able. You can also try this fist movement by wadding up a paper ball or squeezing a stress ball in your palm in order to provide increased resistance.-Do an exercise called the thumb bend: with your fingers and thumb held straight and kept close together, slightly bend your thumb toward your pinky, across your palm, and try to touch the area where the little finger meets the top of the palm. If the pain is too excruciating or you cannot stretch that far, bring the thumb back to the original position. Do not overdo the motion or try too hard.


-Try the finger tap exercise. Put your palm downward, on a flat, firm surface. Begin the motion of the exercise by lifting your thumb. Next, put your thumb down then lift the next finger, which is your index finger. Repeat this motion with each of your fingers. Again, try not to strain the motions. Do only what you can without too much pain or forced motions.-This one is called finger to finger. Relax your fingers and thumb then form an "O" by touching your thumb with your index finger. Then, straighten your fingers and touch your middle finger with your thumb. Repeat this movement for each finger. Perform this exercise several times each day.As stated before, you should always consult your hand surgeon or your physical therapist before you try any exercises. When combined with pain management, physical rehabilitation can help you gain the full range of motion and renew the strength in your muscles. It also helps to have a positive outlook and to realize that it will take time to get things working properly again. Chances are you will find that your newly renovated extremity will be working much better than it ever worked before, and you'll be back to your normal routine in no time.