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 83
After surgery on a broken elbow or forearm
Shoulder & elbow · 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 and shoulder from the first day, and start moving the elbow as soon as we tell you, usually within the first week. The elbow stiffens quickly if it is kept still.
Arm use In the sling, splint or plaster as we advise, taking it off for the exercises unless we tell you otherwise. Light use for eating and writing. No lifting, and no pushing up on this hand.
Table slide
Sit at a table, slide the hand forward, letting the body follow.
- 10 times
- 3 times a day
Should feel: A stretch at the end of the range Should not feel: Pinching at the top
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
- Every hour while awake
Should feel: A gentle stretch at the front or back of the elbow 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
Not yet Letting anyone massage, pull or force the elbow straight: this can make it stiffer for good. Lifting, 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 elbow bending and straightening further each week, and the wrist moving. Carry on with the earlier exercises.
Arm use Light daily tasks at home: eating, washing, dressing. Nothing heavier than a full glass of water. No pushing up from a chair with this hand.
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
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
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 Lifting, carrying bags, or forced stretching or massage of the elbow.
Move to the next stage only after we have seen you, and the X-ray if one was planned.
Weeks 6–12
As the X-ray shows healing, build grip and arm 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
Band row
Pull a band back, squeezing the shoulder blades together.
- 12 times
- Once a day
Should feel: The shoulder blade muscles working Should not feel: Shrugging
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 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 manual work 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 hand becomes numb, cold, pale or blue
- New tingling or numbness in the ring and little fingers, or in the thumb and first fingers
- You cannot straighten the fingers or lift the wrist
- Wound redness, discharge or fever
- The elbow is getting stiffer week by week instead of looser
Ready when you are.
Call either clinic during consulting hours, or send a WhatsApp message any time.