Median nerve glide
Encourage healthy median nerve mobility with a slow sequence of wrist and finger positions. Never push into symptoms.
Soft fist, thumb tucked.
Ready when you are
We'll guide you through 7 short steps — about 39 seconds of guided motion. Pause or stop anytime — nothing leaves your device.
Have ready: No special equipment
Contraindications & stop if…
When not to do this
- Active nerve injury without clinician clearance
- Post-surgical nerve repair before clearance
Stop if
- Increased tingling, numbness, or burning
- Symptoms travel further up the arm
- Sharp wrist pain
Guided full-screen session — 3D hand, optional mirror, voice or silent modes.
Why it helps
Nerves need to glide through tissue. Gentle, non-painful glides may help with sensitivity and stiffness around the median nerve pathway.
What it should feel like
A light stretch along the forearm and palm. Stop the moment tingling or numbness increases.
Target area
Wrist, forearm, fingers
Stop if you notice
- Increased tingling, numbness, or burning
- Symptoms travel further up the arm
- Sharp wrist pain
Get clearance first if
- Active nerve injury without clinician clearance
- Post-surgical nerve repair before clearance
Watch a curated demo
Your practice loop
Pause where you want, then tap A for where the loop starts and B for where it ends. Turn Autoloop off anytime — your A/B times stay saved for this video.
Now 0:00 · Loop 0:00 → end of video
Education sources
HandTherapy.app summarizes common home-program elements used in hand therapy and surgery recovery education. These links are for learning — they do not replace your clinician's instructions.
How to do it well
Goal, setup, dose, and the things therapists most often have to repeat. This is education — not a replacement for your clinician's plan.
Before you start
- Sit upright with your shoulder relaxed.
- Stop immediately if tingling or numbness increases.
- Move slowly — this is not a stretch contest.
Today's dose
- Reps
- 5
- Sets
- 1
- Hold
- 2s
- Sessions / day
- 2
- Rest
- 45s
- Pain ceiling
- 2/10
Common mistakes
- Pushing into tingling instead of backing off
- Adding the thumb stretch when wrist already feels pinchy
- Doing it too many times per day — nerves don't like overuse
Easier version
- Skip the final thumb stretch
- Reduce to 3 reps and 1 session per day
- Stop at the wrist-extension step if symptoms appear
How did this feel?
One tap. Saved as a question for your next visit when relevant — never auto-shared.
What to do next — not a dead end
Suggestions use shared goals, tags, and difficulty — not your medical record. Always defer to your clinician’s plan after surgery or a flare.
~3 min this exercise
Add a second exercise below for a fuller block.
None required — bodyweight / table surface only
Explainer ceiling: 2/10 — back off before you reach it.
When to stop
Increased tingling, numbness, or burning
Symptoms travel further up the arm
Full stop rules ↑Education if this matches your situation
Get clearance first if
- • Active nerve injury without clinician clearance
- • Post-surgical nerve repair before clearance
Where this fits in a program
- Carpal tunnel syndrome — Low-cost carpal tunnel pathway
- Nerve injury, numbness, or sensory loss — Nerve recovery & numbness kit
Commonly paired with
Different goal, shared tags — typical clinical pairings.
Related in the same lane
Same goal or strong tag overlap.
Movement library — same skills, smaller steps
Movements are the building blocks therapists combine into exercises.