Reclaim mobility and strength

Your hands are instrumental in nearly everything you do—from typing to cooking to holding your morning coffee. When tendon injuries disrupt this functionality, it’s hard not to feel frustrated. Whether you’ve experienced a sports accident, workplace mishap, or an overuse injury, healing your hands can feel like an uphill struggle without the right guidance.

Enter hand therapy—a specialized form of rehabilitation that focuses on regaining the movement, strength, and flexibility necessary for everyday activities. This blog will walk you through everything you need to know about hand therapy for tendon injuries, including what it involves, who it benefits, and practical steps you can take to aid your recovery.

What is a tendon injury in the hand?

To better understand how hand therapy can help, it’s important to know what a tendon injury is and how it affects your hands.

Tendons are strong, fibrous tissues that connect muscle to bone, allowing your hands and fingers to move with precision. Because of their constant use, these tendons are vulnerable to injuries such as cuts, ruptures, inflammation, or tears. Common tendon injuries in the hand include:

• Flexor Tendon Injuries: Damage to tendons that allow your fingers to curl or grip objects. These injuries are often caused by deep cuts or traumatic accidents.
• Extensor Tendon Injuries: Damage to tendons on the top of the hand that help your fingers straighten. Minor trauma, such as sudden hyperextension, can cause these injuries.
• Trigger Finger: Both of these conditions are caused by irritation or inflammation of tendon sheaths, leading to pain and limited movement.

Untreated tendon injuries can result in chronic pain, stiffness, and reduced hand function. This is why proper management through treatments like hand therapy is crucial.

Why is hand therapy essential for tendon recovery?

Tendon injuries do not heal overnight. After surgery (if required) or medical interventions, your recovery hinges on the rehabilitation phase where hand therapy plays a critical role. Here’s why it’s so effective:

• Improves Range of Motion (ROM): Scar tissue from injuries or surgery often restricts movement. Hand therapy breaks up adhesions and restores flexibility.
• Enhances Strength: Targeted exercises help rebuild muscle strength in affected areas, allowing tendons to handle daily tasks again.
• Prevents Long-Term Stiffness: A well-structured therapy program prevents contractures (permanent stiffness) that can occur after prolonged immobility.
• Boosts Circulation for Healing: Gentle movements and massages performed during therapy promote blood flow to injured tendons, speeding up the recovery process.

Hand therapy techniques to know

Hand therapy incorporates a blend of physical and occupational therapy techniques. A certified hand therapist (CHT) leverages multiple tools to tailor treatment plans based on each patient’s unique needs. Below are some common approaches used in tendon injury rehabilitation:

1.Range of Motion Exercises

These are gentle, therapist-guided movements designed to counter stiffness and maintain flexibility in the joints surrounding injured tendons. For example:

• Tendon gliding exercises, where you move your fingers through various patterns, help reduce adhesions and improve mobility.
• Passive stretches encourage flexibility without placing undue strain on healing tendons.

2.Strength Training

Strengthening exercises gradually reintroduce resistance to your recovering hand. Therapists might incorporate:

• Therapy putty or resistance bands to restore grip strength.
• Weighted exercises for those regaining function after severe strains.

3.Splinting or Immobilization

Custom-made splints are used to provide your tendons with adequate rest during the early stages of healing. They also help position your hand correctly, minimizing undesirable strain on the injured area.

4.Scar Tissue Management

If your injury required surgery, scars could limit tendon movement. Therapists apply massage techniques or tools like silicone gel sheets to soften scar tissue and enhance mobility.

5.Modalities for Pain Management

Therapists may incorporate modalities such as:

• Ultrasound Therapy: Helps improve blood flow and soft tissue repair.
• Electrical Stimulation (TENS): Alleviates pain while promoting healing.
• Heat and Cold Therapy: Reduces stiffness and inflammation.

6.Functional Task Training

Advanced therapy focuses on restoring hand coordination and dexterity for specific activities, like typing, playing an instrument, or using tools at work.

6 Steps for a Faster Recovery

Tendon recovery can be slow, but there are steps you can take alongside professional hand therapy to improve outcomes.

1. Follow Your Therapist’s Guidance

Stick to the therapy plan provided by your CHT. Overexerting yourself too soon can cause reinjury, while underutilization can delay progress.

2. Perform Exercises at Home

Your therapist will likely assign home exercises. These small, daily movements are essential in maintaining the progress made during therapy sessions.

3. Eat for Healing

Fuel your body with protein-rich foods, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin C to repair soft tissues like tendons and ligaments.

4. Avoid Smoking

Smoking reduces blood flow to tendons and delays your body’s natural ability to heal.

5. Keep Moving

If your split or injury allows, stay active. Movement prevents muscle loss and stiffness in uninvolved areas of your hand or arm.

6. Stay Patient

Lastly, recovery takes time—weeks or even months in more serious cases. Celebrate small steps and listen to your body.

When should you start hand therapy?

The timing for hand therapy depends on the type and severity of your injury. For postoperative patients, therapy often begins within weeks of surgery, once the initial healing phase has passed. For non-surgical injuries, starting therapy promptly after diagnosis ensures better outcomes.

If you notice signs such as lingering pain, stiffness, or reduced hand mobility post-injury, consulting with a certified hand therapist can make all the difference.

Moving Forward with Confidence

Your hands are too valuable to settle for anything less than full recovery. Hand therapy isn’t just about fixing the immediate injury—it’s about reclaiming functionality, independence, and the confidence to return to the activities you love.

Whether your goal is to play guitar again, return to work, or simply live without pain, a tailored approach to tendon recovery is your best path forward.

Seeking professional help? Many clinics offer specialized hand therapy services tailored to tendon injuries. Schedule an appointment today to take your first step toward recovery.