Physical therapy for a Colles’ fracture involves improving wrist and arm movement and strength. Your physical therapist will help you with exercises to regain normal mobility.
The home exercise program is an important part of your Colles’ fracture rehab. The exercises you perform at home can help support your physical therapy treatments.
This article discusses four wrist exercises your physical therapist may suggest using at home.
To start regaining wrist range of motion:
Hold your arm out in front of you. Slowly bend your hand and fingers up as if you were signaling for someone to “stop. “Hold this hand with your non-injured hand, and gently add pressure by pulling your hand and fingers back. Hold the position for five seconds, and then relax. Repeat the stretch for five repetitions. Flex your wrist down while holding your arm in front of you. Gently add pressure by grasping your hand and bending it further into the position. Hold this position for five seconds. Repeat five times.
Your physical therapist may also prescribe exercises to work on turning your hand over. These might be motions like when you’re pouring a pitcher of water or carrying a bowl of soup.
These advanced wrist stretches can be started later. Your initial focus should be on gaining wrist flexion and extension, or bending down and up.
Exercises to improve hand grip may include:
Towel gripping (holding and squeezing a rolled towel)Handgrip exercises with a Digi-Flex device (a hand-therapy tool)
When performing gripping exercises, be sure to hold each repetition for a few seconds, and grip with slow, deliberate motions. Perform each exercise for 10 to 15 repetitions.
Squeeze the putty between your thumb and fingers, and then squeeze it between two individual fingers. You can also roll the putty into a long tube and shape it into a ring. Place the ring around your fingers to work on extending your fingers against resistance.
Remember to start slow with a light weight. Once your wrist strengthens, you can progress to a heavier weight. Check in with your PT to ensure that you are using the proper resistance for your specific condition.
Summary
If you had a Colles’ fracture, you may need physical therapy to regain strength and mobility in your wrist. Your physical therapist will work with you on exercises to do at home. This may include improving your wrist’s range of motion, working on your grip, and increasing strength in your fingers and wrist.
Always check with your healthcare provider before doing these exercises independently. They can make sure that they’re safe for you and won’t cause additional injury.
A Word From Verywell
A Colles’ fracture can be a painful injury that causes significant functional limitations in your hand and arm. Learning the right exercises to do can help you regain normal functional use of your arm and hand.
With physical therapy and exercises at home, you can be sure to quickly and safely get back to your maximum potential.
