Grip Strengthening
Builds hand and forearm grip strength with a ball or putty.
What it helps
Builds the grip and forearm strength behind almost every hand task — and supports the tendons at the elbow that grip relies on.
How to do it
- Hold a soft ball or therapy putty in your hand.
- Squeeze firmly and hold a few seconds, then relax fully.
- Work through comfortable effort; stop short of sharp pain.
Tips
- Full squeeze, full relax — both matter.
- Grip work loads the elbow tendons, so build it gradually if you have tennis or golfer's elbow.
Commonly done as 2–3 sets of 10–15, most days.
Where this appears in recovery
Grip Strengthening is part of 165 recovery programs, most often at the protected healing (weeks 0–2), protected healing (weeks 0–3) and strength building (weeks 6–12) stages, among others. Each program shows how it fits alongside the other movements:
- Clavicle Fracture ORIF exercise guide
- Latarjet Procedure exercise guide
- Distal Radius Fracture ORIF exercise guide
- Distal Radius Fracture ORIF exercise guide
- Distal Radius Fracture ORIF exercise guide
- Dupuytren Fasciectomy exercise guide
- Dupuytren Fasciectomy exercise guide
- Superior Capsular Reconstruction exercise guide
- Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair exercise guide
- Distal Biceps Tendon Repair exercise guide
- Distal Biceps Tendon Repair exercise guide
- Distal Biceps Tendon Repair exercise guide
- …and 153 more
All exercise guides · Condition guides · Recovery education
These are general exercise guides, not a personal prescription. The repetitions and frequency shown are what's commonly used — your own surgeon or therapist may advise something different, and their guidance comes first.