Tendon glides: why therapists prescribe them — and how to stay in a safe range
Exercises & movement··6 min read·By HandTherapy·Education only; not individualized medical advice.
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“Tendon glides” usually refers to controlled finger and wrist motion patterns used in hand therapy to encourage tendons to move through their pulleys without aggressive stretching. They are commonly discussed for flexor tendon irritation patterns and related stiffness — but the timing relative to injury or surgery is not universal.
If you are cleared for gentle home practice
HandTherapy.app includes a guided session for tendon glides and a separate pattern for median nerve glides. These pages include stop rules and expected sensations — stop and ask your clinician if symptoms spike or numbness spreads.
Where tendon glide education often shows up
Therapists may discuss tendon health alongside conditions such as trigger finger or De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. Those pages link splint concepts and sources suitable for shared decision-making with a clinician.
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Sources & further reading
- Tendonitis — AAOS OrthoInfo(accessed 2026-04-22)
- De Quervain's Tendinosis — AAOS OrthoInfo(accessed 2026-04-22)
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