Wrist Deviation (Side-to-Side)
Strengthens the muscles that move the wrist toward the thumb and little-finger sides.
What it helps
Strengthens the side-to-side wrist muscles — important support for the thumb-side tendons and for steady, controlled wrist use.
How to do it
- Rest the forearm on a table with the hand off the edge, thumb up, holding a light weight or hammer.
- Slowly raise the hand toward the thumb side, then lower with control.
- Keep the forearm still; the motion is at the wrist.
Tips
- Light resistance, controlled motion.
- A hammer held toward the head adds gentle, adjustable load.
Commonly done as 2 sets of 10–12, most days.
Where this appears in recovery
Wrist Deviation (Side-to-Side) is part of 21 recovery programs, most often at the wrist motion (weeks 2–6), regaining motion (weeks 3–8) 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
- Ganglion Cyst Excision (Wrist) exercise guide
- Distal Radius Closed Reduction exercise guide
- Wrist Arthroscopy (Diagnostic) exercise guide
- Scaphoid Fracture ORIF exercise guide
- TFCC Repair (Arthroscopic) exercise guide
- Wrist Arthritis exercise guide
- Wrist Pain exercise guide
- Wrist Pain exercise guide
- …and 9 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.