An injury to the hand or finger can result in increased swelling, scar formation and adhesion, which limits the tendon glide, and ultimately affects joint range of motion, loss of strength, decreased coordination and reduced ability to use your hand. Here we take a look at some helpful tendon gliding excercises.
Gliding of the flexor tendons is a prerequisite to being able to moving your fingers freely, making a strong grip and using your hand for function. In your fingers there are two flexor tendons, named the Flexor Digitorum Profundus and Flexor Digitorum Superficialis.
These tendons are held together inside a sheath and held down close to the bones underneath. The tendons need to be able to slide within this sheath together but also individually (called differential gliding) to create joint motion.
An injury to the hand or finger can result in increased swelling, scar formation and adhesion, which limits the tendon glide, and ultimately affects joint range of motion, loss of strength, decreased coordination and reduced ability to use your hand.
Your hand therapist can go through tendon gliding exercises with you to help move the tendons individually as well as together to give you the best movement possible. They also have the benefit in reducing swelling.
1) Start with your fingers straight
Straight
2) Bend the tips of your fingers into a hook, whilst keeping the large knuckles up straight
Hook
3) Make a tabletop by bending the large knuckles and keeping the rest of the joints straight
Table Top
4) Touch your palm keeping the end joints straight
Straight Fist
5) Make a full fist by bending all of the joints
Full First
Or in sequence:
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