Thumb & Wrist Stretch
A gentle stretch for the thumb-side tendons of the wrist.
What it helps
Eases tension in the thumb-side wrist tendons — gently loosening the tight, irritated tendons that limit thumb and wrist use.
How to do it
- Hold the arm out, thumb up. Gently bend the wrist downward and toward the little-finger side until you feel a mild stretch along the thumb side of the wrist.
- Hold gently; keep it comfortable.
- You can tuck the thumb lightly into the palm first for a touch more — but never force it.
Tips
- A gentle, mild stretch only — thumb-side tendons are easily over-stretched.
- Ease off if it sharpens.
Commonly done as 3 sets of Hold 15–20 sec, daily.
Where this appears in recovery
Thumb & Wrist Stretch is part of 17 recovery programs, most often at the strength building (weeks 6–12), strength building (months 2–5) and regaining motion (weeks 6–12) stages, among others. Each program shows how it fits alongside the other movements:
- Distal Radius Fracture ORIF exercise guide
- Proximal Row Carpectomy exercise guide
- Partial Wrist Fusion (Four-Corner Fusion) exercise guide
- de Quervain Release exercise guide
- de Quervain Release exercise guide
- Ganglion Cyst Excision (Wrist) exercise guide
- Carpal Tunnel Release (Open) exercise guide
- Distal Radius Closed Reduction exercise guide
- Thumb CMC Arthroplasty (LRTI / Suspensionplasty) exercise guide
- Wrist Arthroscopy (Diagnostic) exercise guide
- Scaphoid Fracture ORIF exercise guide
- Carpal Tunnel Release (Endoscopic) exercise guide
- …and 5 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.