Median Nerve Glides

Gentle gliding movements that keep the median nerve moving freely through the wrist.

Median Nerve Glides exercise illustration

What it helps

Keeps the median nerve gliding smoothly through the carpal tunnel — easing the irritation behind carpal tunnel tingling without over-stretching a sensitive nerve.

How to do it

  1. Start with a gentle fist, wrist neutral.
  2. Open the fingers straight, then bend the wrist back so the palm faces forward and fingers point up.
  3. Gently add a thumb stretch with the other hand if comfortable, then return. Move slowly through the sequence.

Tips

  • Gentle gliding — never a hard stretch, which can irritate a sensitive nerve.
  • Stop short of strong tingling; ease back if symptoms increase.

Commonly done as 2–3 sets of 5–10, daily.

Where this appears in recovery

Median Nerve Glides is part of 11 recovery programs, most often at the wrist motion (weeks 2–6), wound & nerve glides (weeks 0–2) and restoring use (weeks 2–6) stages, among others. Each program shows how it fits alongside the other movements:

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.