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Mobility Gentle ~3 min

Wrist range of motion

Slow wrist movements through bend, extend, and side-to-side to maintain comfortable joint mobility.

Equipment: No special equipment

Forearm supported; hand off table edge.

Ready when you are

We'll guide you through 6 short steps — about 34 seconds of guided motion. Pause or stop anytime — nothing is uploaded.

Have ready: No special equipment

Contraindications & stop if…

When not to do this

  • Acute wrist fracture
  • Recent wrist surgery without clearance
  • Active immobilization (cast/splint)

Stop if

  • Sharp wrist pain
  • Clicking with pain
  • Sudden swelling
How does the hand feel right now?
No painWorst pain

Prefer a quick pacing gate before the timer? Use full guided session — it asks for pain, stiffness, and fatigue in a few taps first (education only, not clearance).

Guided session

Full-screen steps and timer below — same exercise. For vertical reel mode, use the clapper icon next to Save at the top of the page.

Why it helps

Mobility work supports daily tasks like turning keys, pouring, and typing without forcing the joint.

What it should feel like

A gentle stretch at the end of each range. Never forced.

Target area

Wrist

Stop if you notice

  • Sharp wrist pain
  • Clicking with pain
  • Sudden swelling

Get clearance first if

  • Acute wrist fracture
  • Recent wrist surgery without clearance
  • Active immobilization (cast/splint)

Watch a curated demo

Patient education · Wrist range of motion
Watch on YouTube

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

Full video. Native YouTube controls stay in the player frame.
5 Exercises to Build Grip Strength after Distal Radius Fracture · Virtual Hand Care · verified 2026-04-22Patient education only — not a replacement for advice from your clinician.

More demos & readings (editorial catalog)

Extra YouTube, PDF, and hospital links gathered for this exercise cluster. The top embed above remains the oEmbed-verified pick when present; treat these as adjacent education — confirm fit with your clinician.

Typical catalog dose: 10 repetitions per hand.

Precautions (catalog)

  • Keep the movement gentle.
  • Stop if swelling or pain increases.

  • 10 Hand and Wrist Strengthening Exercises with a Power-Web

    Michelle / YouTube · 2023-01-14

    Includes large grasp, pull, pinch, stabilization, and finger extension drills using a Power-Web.

    Good for grip, pinch, and wrist strengthening.

    Catalog ids: large_grasp_powerweb

  • 5 Minute Finger and Hand Stiffness Exercise Routine for Both Hands

    Virtual Hand Care · 2023-03-12

    Introduces dynamic spider fingers as exercise number one.

    Good for stiffness and warming up the hand.

    Catalog ids: dynamic_spider_fingers, handwriting_warmups, hook_to_fist

  • Best 5 Hand, Wrist & Forearm exercises for 70+ (No Pain)

    Bob & Brad · 2026-02-28

    Includes supination and pronation in a gentle mobility sequence.

    Useful for older adults or low-pain mobility work.

    Catalog ids: pronation_supination, wrist_stretching

  • Hand Exercises For Every Stage of Stroke Recovery

    Unknown / YouTube · 2024-09-19

    Demonstrates movement progressions for stiff hands.

    Useful as a recovery progression reference.

    Catalog ids: joint_mobilization_strap

  • Hand exercises for strength and mobility

    Unknown / YouTube · 2020-02-04

    Supports mobility and hand opening patterns.

    Useful as an alternative mobility drill.

    Catalog ids: dynamic_spider_fingers, wrist_range_of_motion, wrist_stretching

  • HANDWRITING WARM UPS l Hand and Finger Exercises

    Unknown / YouTube · 2020-04-03

    A fine motor warm-up routine designed to improve pencil control, dexterity, and coordination.

    Ideal for handwriting preparation.

    Catalog ids: handwriting_warmups

  • Occupational Therapy Hand Exercises

    Unknown / YouTube · 2015-09-29

    Includes pronation and supination as part of the exercise set.

    Appropriate for functional forearm mobility.

    Catalog ids: pronation_supination, wrist_range_of_motion

  • Wrist and Finger Mobility Exercises for Stiffness: Both Hands

    Virtual Hand Care · 2024-05-02

    A guided mobility session that includes knuckle bender tendon glides and hook fist movement.

    Good for stiffness, arthritis, and post-injury mobility.

    Catalog ids: tendon_glide_sequence

  • 9 Exercises to Help Hand Arthritis

    Arthritis Foundation · 2025-12-18

    Includes the O-shape exercise for hand mobility and dexterity.

    Useful for thumb opposition and joint flexibility.

    Catalog ids: o_shape

    Open resource

  • Hand and Finger Exercises

    The Hand Society · 2025-08-24

    Includes thumb-related movements that support opposition and pinch function.

    Appropriate for hand therapy home programs.

    Catalog ids: o_shape

    Open resource

  • Hand Exercises

    Royal United Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · 2023-10-01

    A patient hand exercise sheet covering basic finger bend, straighten, spread, and squeeze movements.

    Appropriate for gentle recovery and daily range-of-motion work.

    Catalog ids: finger_lifts_spreads

    Open resource

  • Hand Physical Therapy Exercises to Boost Mobility and Recovery

    BTE Technologies / TherapySpark · 2025-06-19

    Shows finger lifts and spreads for hand mobility and control.

    Useful for basic at-home mobility work.

    Catalog ids: finger_lifts_spreads

    Open resource

  • Hand Strengthening Exercises for Grip and Function

    Trust Strength Rehab · 2025-08-14

    Covers grip and pinch strengthening approaches that pair well with resistance tools.

    Useful for progression beyond basic therapy putty.

    Catalog ids: large_grasp_powerweb

    Open resource

  • Hand therapy exercise videos

    South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · 2022-01-13

    Includes tendon gliding and blocking exercises that overlap with hook-fist control.

    Useful for therapist-guided rehab.

    Catalog ids: hook_to_fist

    Open resource

  • Hand therapy videos

    The Royal Melbourne Hospital · 2023-01-16

    Shows a strap used to improve joint motion.

    Appropriate for guided home rehab.

    Catalog ids: joint_mobilization_strap

    Open resource

  • Occupational Therapy Hand Exercises: Home Program

    Medbridge · 2026-03-01

    Contains tendon glide positions as part of a hand mobility home program.

    Useful for structured therapy programs and progression planning.

    Catalog ids: tendon_glide_sequence

    Open resource

Catalog fact-check source list

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.

Explainer

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

  • Forearm fully supported on a table.
  • Hand hangs free off the edge.
  • Move only into pain-free range.

Today's dose

Reps
6
Sets
2
Hold
3s
Sessions / day
3
Rest
30s
Pain ceiling
3/10

Common mistakes

  • Forcing past the first sign of resistance
  • Lifting the forearm off the table to 'cheat' more range
  • Adding resistance — this is mobility, not strength

Easier version

  • Skip side-to-side tilts if wrist is sore
  • Reduce to 3 reps and shorten the hold

Harder version

Only if your phase allows progression.

  • Add a 5-second hold at end-range (only if pain-free)
  • Add a third set

How did this feel?

One tap. Saved as a question for your next visit when relevant — never auto-shared.

Jump toSession playerWhy & safetyForm cues & doseKeep going
Continue your rehab

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.

Estimated time

~3 min this exercise

Add a second exercise below for a fuller block.

Equipment

None required — bodyweight / table surface only

Pain-level guard

Explainer ceiling: 3/10 — back off before you reach it.

When to stop

Sharp wrist pain

Clicking with pain

Full stop rules ↑

Common mistake to watch

• Forcing past the first sign of resistance

More form cues ↓

Get clearance first if

  • • Acute wrist fracture
  • • Recent wrist surgery without clearance
  • • Active immobilization (cast/splint)

Where this fits in a program

How recovery phases work

Next recommended exercises

Often the next intensity or a logical pairing.

Commonly paired with

Different goal, shared tags — typical clinical pairings.

Movement library — same skills, smaller steps

Movements are the building blocks therapists combine into exercises.

Keep momentum without overdoing it

Log on TodayShort on time?Bad hand day?Tune recommendationsGuided sessionSafety hubLearn library
In-session scaling: Easier — Skip side-to-side tilts if wrist is sore · Harder — Add a 5-second hold at end-range (only if pain-free)Full explainer ↓