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Mobility Gentle ~2 min

Gentle wrist flexor stretch (palm up)

With the forearm supported and palm up, ease the wrist toward extension to stretch the front of the forearm — common after typing or gripping.

Equipment: No special equipment

Rest the forearm on a table, palm facing the ceiling, wrist just past the edge.

Ready when you are

We'll guide you through 5 short steps — about 26 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

  • Acute wrist tendinitis flare without clearance
  • Recent distal radius fracture before bone healing milestones

Stop if

  • Sharp pain at the wrist crease
  • New numbness in thumb or index
  • Popping with pain
How does the hand feel right now?
No painWorst pain

Guided full-screen session — 3D hand, optional mirror, voice or silent modes.

Why it helps

Short, gentle extensor-biased positioning can balance tissues stressed by repeated wrist flexion and gripping — when cleared for stretching.

What it should feel like

A broad pull along the inner forearm. Never sharp or burning.

Target area

Forearm, wrist

Stop if you notice

  • Sharp pain at the wrist crease
  • New numbness in thumb or index
  • Popping with pain

Get clearance first if

  • Acute wrist tendinitis flare without clearance
  • Recent distal radius fracture before bone healing milestones

Watch a curated demo

Patient education · Gentle wrist flexor stretch (palm up)
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.
Forearm flexor stretch · NHS University Hospitals Plymouth Physiotherapy · verified 2026-04-24Patient education only — not a replacement for advice from your clinician.

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

  • Warm tissues tolerate stretch better — try after a shower or light movement.
  • If your therapist prefers a brace or block protocol, follow that first.

Today's dose

Reps
4
Sets
1
Hold
15s
Sessions / day
2
Rest
60s
Pain ceiling
2/10

Common mistakes

  • Cranking the wrist instead of micro-range changes
  • Lifting the forearm off the table
  • Holding the breath

Easier version

  • Skip the assist; only use gravity
  • Hold half the time

Harder version

Only if your phase allows progression.

  • Only if cleared: add 5° range with the same light pressure

How did this feel?

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

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

~2 min this exercise

Add a second exercise below for a fuller block.

Equipment

None required — bodyweight / table surface only

Pain-level guard

Explainer ceiling: 2/10 — back off before you reach it.

When to stop

Sharp pain at the wrist crease

New numbness in thumb or index

Full stop rules ↑

Common mistake to watch

Cranking the wrist instead of micro-range changes

More form cues ↓

Get clearance first if

  • Acute wrist tendinitis flare without clearance
  • Recent distal radius fracture before bone healing milestones
In-session scaling: Easier — Skip the assist; only use gravity · Harder — Only if cleared: add 5° range with the same light pressureFull explainer ↓