Functional Home Exercises for Patients with Wrist Instability

Functional Home Exercises for Patients with Wrist Instability

Ever wondered what brushing your teeth, dressing, making a U-turn, and playing sports have in common? They all rely on a stable wrist. Wrist stability is crucial for everyday activities, supporting wrist proprioception, coordination, motor control, stability, and mobility (Wietlisbach, 2019). For patients recovering from a wrist injury or patients with wrist instability , maintaining this stability is essential, but keeping up with home exercises can be challenging without engaging tools.

In the clinic, fun tools like a disc stacker or gyroball can motivate patients during exercises. However, at home, adherence can wane without these tools.

Here are some simple wrist exercises patients can incorporate into their daily routine:

1.) Towel Wiping

  • Engage in household chores like cleaning tables or mirrors using a soft towel. This activity provides proprioceptive feedback through weight-bearing and tactile sensory input.

    2.) Wrist Stability with a Plate

    • Hold a plate with a marble on it in the palm of your hand, keeping your elbow close to your side. The goal is to keep the marble centered on the plate. For increased difficulty, add more marbles. This exercise enhances proprioception, wrist stability, and motor control.

      3.) Broom Turning and Gripping

      • Before sweeping, practice motor coordination and gripping skills. Hold the broom from the top of its handle, slightly above the floor. Release the broom, then gradually grip lower down the handle without letting it touch the floor. Repeat until reaching the end of the handle. This exercise integrates sensorimotor function into daily activities (IADLs).

        These exercises not only support rehabilitation but also encourage patients to integrate their therapy into daily tasks. By incorporating these activities into their routine, patients can improve their wrist instability and overall recovery. As always make sure this is an appropriate exercise based on the stage of rehabilitation that the patient is in.

        Wietlisbach, C. (2020). Cooper’s Fundamentals of Hand Therapy, 3rd ed. Elsevier Inc.

        Leave a Comment






        More To Read

        How to Get Started in Hand Therapy

        March 5, 2019

        I started OT school knowing that I wanted to do pediatrics. I set up everything to build up my resume for my first therapy job to be in pediatrics. Along the way I had a 3 month clinical rotation in hand therapy at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. That experience peaked my interest in hands. 13…

        Read More

        Graded Motor Imagery in Hand Therapy

        January 5, 2020

        The 3 Stages of Graded Motor Imagery  We’ve all heard of mirror box therapy, but do you know the details of how it works? There’s actually 3 stages involved that exercise the brain and take advantage of its plasticity.  There is a great deal of evidence supporting these three stages and you can use them…

        Read More

        Place-and-Hold Versus Active Mobilization Therapy After Flexor Tendon Repair

        March 13, 2025

        Title: Passive Mobilization With Place-and-Hold Versus Active Mobilization Therapy After Flexor Tendon Repair: 5-Year Minimum Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial Article Review By: Tommi Hintnaus Reference:  Chevalley, S., Wangberg, V., Ahlen, M., Stromberg, J., & Bjorkman, A. (2024, October 4). Passive Mobilization With Place-and-Hold Versus Active Mobilization Therapy After Flexor Tendon Repair: 5-Year Minimum…

        Read More
        Envelope_1

        Sign-up to Get Updates Straight to Your Inbox!

        Sign up with us and we will send you regular blog posts on everything hand therapy, notices every time we upload new videos and tutorials, along with handout, protocols, and other useful information.