Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Exercises

Your healthcare provider may recommend exercises to help you heal. Talk to your healthcare provider or physical therapist about which exercises will best help you and how to do them correctly and safely.

• Wrist range of motion
  1. Flexion and extension: Gently bend your wrist forward and backward. Do 2 sets of 10.
  2. Side to side: Gently move your wrist from side to side (a handshake motion). Do 2 sets of 10.
• Wrist stretch: Stretch the hand on your injured side back by pressing the fingers in a backward direction. Hold for 15 seconds. Keep the arm on your injured side straight during this exercise. Do 3 sets.
• Mid-trap exercise: Lie on your stomach on a firm surface and place a folded pillow underneath your chest. Place your arms out straight to your sides with your elbows straight and thumbs toward the ceiling. Slowly raise your arms toward the ceiling as you squeeze your shoulder blades together. Lower slowly. Do 2 sets of 15. As the exercise gets easier to do, hold soup cans or small weights in your hands.
• Pectoralis stretch: Stand in an open doorway or corner with both hands slightly above your head on the door frame or wall. Slowly lean forward until you feel a stretch in the front of your shoulders. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat 3 times.
• Scalene stretch: Sit or stand and clasp both hands behind your back. Lower your left shoulder and tilt your head toward the right until you feel a stretch. Hold this position for 15 seconds and then come back to the starting position. Then lower your right shoulder and tilt your head toward the left. Hold for 15 seconds. Repeat 2 times on each side.
• Thoracic extension: Sit in a chair and clasp both arms behind your head. Gently arch backward and look up toward the ceiling. Repeat 10 times. Do this several times each day.
• Scapular squeeze: While sitting or standing with your arms by your sides, squeeze your shoulder blades together and hold for 5 seconds. Do 2 sets of 15.
• Wrist extension: Hold a soup can or small weight in your hand with your palm facing down. Slowly bend your wrist up. Slowly lower the weight down into the starting position. Do 2 sets of 10. Gradually increase the weight of the object you are holding.
• Shoulder abduction: Stand with your arms at your sides. Rest your palms against your sides. Hold a 2 to 4-pound (1 to 2 kilogram) weight in each hand. Keeping your arms straight, lift your arms out to the side and toward the ceiling. Hold this position for 5 seconds and then slowly bring your arms down. Do 2 sets of 8 to 12.
• Tendon glide: Do these exercises 3 times per day, 5 repetitions each.
  1. Hold your hand with your fingers straight and your palm facing away from you. Hold this position for 5 seconds.
  2. Flex the tips of your fingers and try to make a “claw” position. Hold 5 seconds.
  3. Return to Step 1 and hold 5 seconds.
  4. Make a full fist with your fingers. Hold 5 seconds.
  5. Return to Step 1 and hold 5 seconds.
  6. Keep your fingers straight, but bend only your knuckles, trying to make a duck-bill shape with your hand. Hold 5 seconds.
  7. Return to Step 1 and hold 5 seconds.
  8. Try to touch only your finger tips to your palm without making a full fist. Hold 5 seconds.
  9. Return to Step 1.