Composite fist
Make a full fist slowly, then open fully.
- 10 times
- Every hour while awake
Should feel: Full movement Should not feel: Catching that hurts
Home / Patient library / Exercise sheets / Sheet 76
After surgery on a broken wrist: plate and screws
Hand & wrist · After surgery on a broken bone
Count the weeks from the day of your operation. The date is on your discharge card.
If your doctor wrote a different plan on your prescription, follow that instead of this page.
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Weeks 0–2
Bring the swelling down: keep the hand raised above the level of the heart for the first few days. Move the fingers, elbow and shoulder from the first day.
Arm use In the splint or plaster: light use for eating and writing. No lifting, pushing or leaning on this hand.
Tendon glides
Move the fingers through straight, hook, full fist and back to straight.
- 10 times
- 3 times a day
Should feel: The tendons moving freely Should not feel: Catching
Finger to thumb touches
Touch each fingertip to the thumb in turn.
- 10 rounds
- 3 times a day
Should feel: Smooth control Should not feel: Locking
Elbow bend and straighten
Sit with the arm by your side. Bend the elbow slowly as far as it goes, bringing the hand up, then straighten it fully.
- 10 times
- 3 times a day
Should feel: A gentle stretch at the front or back of the elbow Should not feel: Sharp pain
Wall climb
Face a wall, walk the fingers up as high as comfortable, hold, then walk down.
- 5 times
- 3 times a day
Should feel: A stretch overhead Should not feel: Shrugging to cheat height
Not yet Letting the arm hang down for long, wetting the wound before the stitches are out, or driving.
Move to the next stage only after we have seen you, and the X-ray if one was planned.
Weeks 2–6
Stitches out. Get the wrist moving: take the splint off for the exercises, and wear it outdoors and at night unless we tell you otherwise. Carry on with the earlier exercises.
Arm use Light daily tasks indoors without the splint: eating, writing, dressing. Nothing heavier than a full glass of water.
Warm water soak
Rest both hands in a bowl of warm water. Open and close a loose fist slowly while they are in the water.
- 5 minutes
- Before the exercises
Should feel: The hands loosening as they warm Should not feel: Water hot enough to sting or redden the skin
Wrist circles
Slow circles in both directions.
- 10 each way
- 3 times a day
Should feel: Free movement Should not feel: Pain over the lump
Wrist side to side
Gentle side-to-side movement.
- 10 times
- 3 times a day
Should feel: Free movement Should not feel: Sharp pain
Forearm rotation
Elbow tucked in, turn the palm up and down slowly.
- 10 times
- 3 times a day
Should feel: Free movement Should not feel: Clicking with pain
Prayer stretch
Palms together, lower the hands until you feel a stretch.
- Hold 20 seconds
- 3 times
Should feel: A stretch at the front of the wrist Should not feel: Numbness increasing
Wrist extensor stretch
Straighten the elbow, palm down, and gently pull the hand down.
- Hold 20 seconds
- 3 times
Should feel: A stretch on top of the forearm Should not feel: Numbness
Not yet Lifting, pushing up from a chair with this hand, or forcing a stretch into sharp pain.
Move to the next stage only after we have seen you, and the X-ray if one was planned.
Weeks 6–12
Splint off, as the X-ray shows healing. Build grip and wrist strength and go back to normal daily use. Carry on with the earlier exercises.
Arm use Normal daily use. Lift heavier things a little at a time as the strength comes back.
Grip squeeze
Squeeze a soft ball gently.
- 10 times
- 2 times a day
Should feel: The hand working Should not feel: Pain
Isometric wrist extension
Press the back of the hand upwards against the other hand without moving.
- Hold 10 seconds
- 10 times
Should feel: The forearm working Should not feel: Pain
Isometric wrist flexion
Press the palm downwards against the other hand without moving.
- Hold 10 seconds
- 10 times
Should feel: The forearm working Should not feel: Pain
Wrist flexor stretch
Straighten the elbow, palm up, and gently pull the fingers back.
- Hold 20 seconds
- 3 times
Should feel: A stretch under the forearm Should not feel: Tingling in the little finger
Not yet Heavy lifting, push-ups or weight training.
Move to the next stage only after we have seen you, and the X-ray if one was planned.
Week 12 onwards
Back to full work and sport, as the X-ray shows. Carry on with the third-stage exercises.
Arm use Full.
Eccentric wrist extension
Hold a light weight, palm down. Lift with the other hand, then lower SLOWLY over 3 seconds using the painful arm.
- 15 times
- Once a day
Should feel: A working ache in the forearm Should not feel: Sharp pain at the elbow
Eccentric wrist flexion
Hold a light weight, palm up. Lift with the other hand, then lower SLOWLY over 3 seconds.
- 15 times
- Once a day
Should feel: A working ache in the forearm Should not feel: Sharp pain at the inner elbow
Not yet Contact sport or heavy lifting until we clear you.
Stop and telephone us if
- Pain that keeps getting worse despite the painkillers, or is much worse when you straighten the fingers
- The fingers become numb, cold, pale or blue
- New or increasing tingling or numbness in the thumb and the first two fingers
- Wound redness, discharge or fever
- You suddenly cannot lift the thumb
- Burning pain, shiny or discoloured skin, or fingers getting stiffer instead of looser
Ready when you are.
Call either clinic during consulting hours, or send a WhatsApp message any time.