Wrist Curls
Strengthens the forearm muscles in both directions.
What it helps
Builds balanced forearm strength in both directions — the everyday strength behind a comfortable, capable wrist and grip.
How to do it
- Rest your forearm on a table with your hand just past the edge, holding a light weight.
- Palm up: curl your wrist upward, then lower it slowly.
- Turn your forearm over so the palm faces down, then lift the back of your hand upward and lower it slowly.
- Move smoothly through a comfortable range.
Tips
- Light weight, controlled motion.
- Your forearm stays resting on the table — only the wrist moves.
- Build the forearm in both directions for balance.
Commonly done as 2–3 sets of 12–15 each, most days.
Where this appears in recovery
Wrist Curls is part of 76 recovery programs, most often at the strength building (weeks 6–12), strength & scar (weeks 6–12) and regaining motion (weeks 4–8) stages, among others. Each program shows how it fits alongside the other movements:
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- Proximal Row Carpectomy exercise guide
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- Partial Wrist Fusion (Four-Corner Fusion) exercise guide
- Partial Wrist Fusion (Four-Corner Fusion) exercise guide
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- Ganglion Cyst Excision (Wrist) exercise guide
- Ganglion Cyst Excision (Wrist) exercise guide
- …and 64 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.