Thumb IP flexion isolation
Hold the thumb’s base joint still and bend only the tip — a focused glide for the flexor pollicis longus tendon used after thumb tendon repair or stiffness.
Rest the hand on a table, palm up, thumb relaxed.
Ready when you are
We'll guide you through 5 short steps — about 28 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
- Recent FPL tendon repair without surgeon clearance and protocol
- Acute thumb fracture before bone-healing milestones
Stop if
- Sharp pain at the wrist or thumb base
- Inability to bend the tip after a few gentle reps
- Audible snapping with pain
Guided full-screen session — 3D hand, optional mirror, voice or silent modes.
Why it helps
Isolating motion at the IP joint encourages the deep thumb flexor (FPL) to glide independently — important for pinch precision and for preventing tendon adhesions after surgery.
What it should feel like
A focused pull at the tip of the thumb. No popping, no sharp pain.
Target area
Thumb (IP joint), FPL tendon
Stop if you notice
- Sharp pain at the wrist or thumb base
- Inability to bend the tip after a few gentle reps
- Audible snapping with pain
Get clearance first if
- Recent FPL tendon repair without surgeon clearance and protocol
- Acute thumb fracture before bone-healing milestones
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
- If you had thumb tendon surgery, follow your surgeon’s timeline first.
- Move slowly — quality of the isolated motion matters more than range.
Today's dose
- Reps
- 8
- Sets
- 2
- Hold
- 3s
- Sessions / day
- 3
- Rest
- 30s
- Pain ceiling
- 3/10
Common mistakes
- Letting the base of the thumb bend along with the tip
- Pulling on the tip with the other hand
- Bending the wrist to ‘help’
Easier version
- Do half the reps
- Stop short of full IP bend
Harder version
Only if your phase allows progression.
- Once cleared, add a very gentle pinch against a soft pad at end-range
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.
~2 min this exercise
Add a second exercise below for a fuller block.
None required — bodyweight / table surface only
Explainer ceiling: 3/10 — back off before you reach it.
When to stop
Sharp pain at the wrist or thumb base
Inability to bend the tip after a few gentle reps
Full stop rules ↑Get clearance first if
- • Recent FPL tendon repair without surgeon clearance and protocol
- • Acute thumb fracture before bone-healing milestones
Commonly paired with
Different goal, shared tags — typical clinical pairings.
Related in the same lane
Same goal or strong tag overlap.