Upper Extremity Exercise: Tendon Exercises for Fingers
The following instructions are for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) patients recommended to perform flexor tendon gliding exercises.
Important information:
Practicing the three types of fists below will help you exercise the tendons in your fingers so they get stronger and move more smoothly.
Patient instructions:
Your therapist will tell you how long to hold each exercise, how many times you should repeat each one, and how many times you should perform the exercises each day. Begin with your fingers straight and return to the starting position after each exercise.
Hook fist
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With fingers and knuckles straight, bend middle and tip joints. Keep large knuckles straight.
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Straight fist
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Start with fingers straight, bend knuckles and middle joints. Keep the joints closest to your fingernails straight.
Keep fingertip joints straight to touch base of palm.
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Full fist
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Start with fingers straight, make a fist bending all joints of fingers. Your fingernails will be tucked into your palm.
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Reviewed on January 5, 2023, by Michelle Hagenbaugh, MS OTR/L