Phase 1
Protect the Wrist
Week 0 – Week 2🎯 Goals
- Bring down the swelling in your hand and fingers
- Keep the splint clean and dry
- Keep your fingers, elbow, and shoulder moving so they don't get stiff
- Manage pain comfortably
⚠️ What to Avoid
- Keep the splint on at all times, day and night
- Do not lift, push, pull, or grip anything with the operated hand
- Do not remove the splint yourself to "check" the wound
- Do not let the hand hang down for long periods
Exercises (Start From Day 1)
- Finger bending: make a soft fist and open fully, several times a day
- Finger spreading: spread fingers apart, then bring them together
- Thumb movement: move your thumb up, down, and across your palm
- Elbow movement: bend and straighten your elbow fully
- Shoulder movement: move your shoulder in all directions, including rolling your shoulders back
- Shoulder circles: gentle circles forward and backward
- Neck movement: gentle turns and tilts if your neck feels tight from holding your arm carefully
- Deep breathing: slow, deep breaths a few times through the day
- Keep the hand elevated (raised) when sitting or lying down
🧊 Swelling Control
- Keep your hand raised above the level of your heart as much as possible, especially when resting
- An ice pack (wrapped in cloth, never placed directly on skin) over the splint can help in the first few days
- Keep moving your fingers often. This "pump" action reduces swelling
- Avoid tight rings, bangles, or watches on the operated hand until swelling settles
✅ Ready for Phase 2 When:
- Wound has been checked and stitches removed at your 2-week visit
- Swelling is coming down
- Fingers are moving well and are not stiff
- Pain is controlled with simple painkillers
Phase 2
Start Moving the Wrist
Week 2 – Week 6🎯 Goals
- Get full finger movement back
- Start gentle wrist and forearm movement
- Begin simple hand activities, like picking up small objects
- Take care of the healing scar
⚠️ What to Avoid
- Still no lifting, pushing, pulling, or gripping with the operated hand
- No strengthening exercises yet
- Do not force the wrist to bend or straighten with pressure from the other hand
Exercises
- Continue finger bending and straightening exercises
- If a finger is not straightening fully, gently help it straighten with your other hand and hold for a few seconds
- Palm turning: turn your palm face up, then face down
- Wrist movement: gently move your wrist up, down, and side to side within comfortable range
- From Week 4 onward, you may gently and slowly assist the wrist movement a little further with your other hand
🩹 Scar Care
- Once the wound has fully healed and stitches are out, gently massage the scar with a plain moisturising cream
- Massage in small circles for a few minutes, 2–3 times a day
- This softens the scar and reduces tightness around it
🏠 Daily Life Adjustments
- Eating and writing: use the other hand for now if the operated hand tires quickly
- Cooking, washing clothes, mopping: avoid until strength returns; ask family for help
- Auto/car travel: short journeys are fine; avoid gripping handles tightly with the operated hand
- Phone use: light use is fine; avoid holding a heavy phone for long in the operated hand
✅ Ready for Phase 3 When:
- Fingers move fully and easily
- Wrist moves gently in all directions without sharp pain
- Wound and scar have healed well
- You can do light one-handed tasks with the other hand comfortably while the operated hand rests
Phase 3
Build Strength
Week 6 – Week 8🎯 Goals
- Begin gentle strengthening of the wrist and forearm
- Regain full wrist and forearm movement
- Improve hand coordination and grip control
- Start using the hand for light daily tasks
⚠️ What to Avoid
- Do not put weight through the wrist, such as pushing yourself up from a chair with that hand, until your doctor clears you (usually around Week 10–12)
- Do not force the wrist into a painful stretch
- Do not use the wrong wrist muscles to "cheat" a movement; ask your physiotherapist to check your technique
Exercises
- Gentle, sustained wrist and forearm stretches to work on any remaining stiffness
- Wrist strengthening exercises as shown by your physiotherapist
- Gentle squeezing exercises using a soft ball or therapy putty
- Gradually increasing resistance exercises for wrist and forearm, as advised
- Light shoulder and elbow strengthening from Week 8
🏠 Daily Life Adjustments
- Light cooking, dusting, folding clothes: okay from Week 6–7 in small amounts
- Temple visits, walking outdoors: fine; avoid carrying bags in the operated hand
- Two-wheeler riding: avoid until Week 10–12; gripping the handle and clutch needs full strength
- Driving a car: only once you can grip the steering wheel firmly and comfortably, usually from Week 8 onward
✅ Ready for Phase 4 When:
- Wrist and forearm move almost fully in all directions
- Grip is improving and daily light tasks feel comfortable
- No significant pain with the exercises above
- Cleared by your doctor for weight-bearing through the wrist
Phase 4
Back to Normal Activities
Week 8 – Week 12🎯 Goals
- Gradually return to your normal daily activities
- Regain full grip strength
- Return to work, hobbies, and most sports, except heavy lifting
Exercises
- Continue and progress all Phase 3 exercises
- Gradually increase grip strengthening (hand gripper, stress ball)
- Weight-bearing exercises through the hand, such as gentle push-up preparation against a wall, as cleared by your doctor
- Return to sport-specific or work-specific hand movements gradually
When Can I Return to Normal Life?
| Activity | Allowed? | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eating, brushing teeth | YES | Immediately | Light, painless use of fingers is fine from Day 1 |
| Typing / phone use | YES | From Week 2–3 | Light use only; stop if it causes pain or swelling |
| Cooking, housework | CAUTION | Light: Week 6+ Full: Week 10–12 |
Avoid heavy pots, wringing clothes, or scrubbing until cleared |
| Driving a car | CAUTION | Week 8+ | Only once grip is firm and pain-free; try in an empty area first |
| Two-wheeler riding | WAIT | Week 10–12 minimum | Needs full grip strength and control for clutch and brake |
| Carrying grocery bags | CAUTION | Week 10–12 | Start with light bags; avoid heavy loads on the operated hand |
| Gym / weight training | CAUTION | Week 12+ | Start light, no wrist-loading exercises until your doctor clears you |
| Cricket, badminton, gardening | CAUTION | Week 12+ | Return gradually; stop if you feel wrist pain or swelling |
| Heavy lifting / manual labour | WAIT | As advised by your doctor | Discuss timing with Dr. Satish Reddy based on your work and healing |
🚨 When to Call Dr. Satish Reddy / Come to Hospital Immediately
🔴 Emergency Signs
- Fingers become cold, pale, blue, or completely numb
- Severe pain that is not relieved by your painkillers
- The splint feels very tight and swelling is increasing rapidly
- High fever with redness, warmth, or pus from the wound
- A fall or injury to the operated arm
🟡 Call the Clinic Within 24 Hours If:
- Swelling suddenly increases without an obvious reason
- Tingling or pins-and-needles in the fingers that does not settle
- The wound looks red, is oozing, or has an odour
- You are unable to move your fingers as well as before
- Pain is getting worse instead of better as the days pass
📅 Follow-up Schedule
🗓 Routine Follow-ups
- 2 weeks: Wound check, stitch removal
- 6 weeks: Movement and healing check, X-ray if needed
- 3 months: Strength and function review
🏋 Long-term Advice
- Continue wrist and grip exercises for a few months even after things feel normal
- Build grip strength gradually with a soft hand gripper
- Wear a wrist guard for high-risk sports or activities for the first year if advised
🏠 Daily Life Tips
- Ask family for help with heavy kitchen or cleaning work in the first 6 weeks
- Keep the hand raised when resting, especially in the first 2 weeks
- Wear loose sleeves that don't press on the splint or the healing wrist