By Dr. Shayne Kelly, DO — Fellowship-Trained Sports Medicine Surgeon · Tri-City Orthopedics, Kennewick, WA
The early exercises Dr. Kelly gives his patients for the first weeks after surgery, until physical therapy takes over.
Keep the dressing clean and dry until your follow-up. Soreness in the palm at the incision is normal. Avoid forceful gripping for the first two weeks — but DO move the finger early and often; gentle motion is the best way to prevent stiffness and keep the tendon gliding.
Slowly make a complete fist, then straighten the fingers all the way out. Focus on getting the operated finger fully bent and fully straight.
Move through: fingers straight — hook fist — full fist — back to straight. Hold each position 2-3 seconds.
With your other hand, hold the middle section of the operated finger straight, and bend just the fingertip joint. Then hold the base of the finger and bend just the middle joint.
Rest your palm flat on a table and lift each finger off the table one at a time, then set it back down.
Several times a day, raise the hand above heart level and slowly open and close the fist to pump swelling out.
Call Dr. Kelly’s office at (509) 460-5588 for fever over 101°F, increasing redness or drainage at incisions, pain that is worsening instead of improving, or new numbness or tingling. For chest pain or trouble breathing, call 911.
Dr. Kelly sees patients at Tri-City Orthopedics in Kennewick.
Request an AppointmentKeep the dressing clean and dry until your follow-up. Soreness in the palm at the incision is normal. Avoid forceful gripping for the first two weeks — but DO move the finger early and often; gentle motion is the key to preventing stiffness and keeping the tendon gliding.
Slowly make a complete fist, then straighten the fingers all the way out. Focus on getting the operated finger fully bent and fully straight.
Move through: fingers straight — hook fist — full fist — back to straight. Hold each position 2-3 seconds.
With your other hand, hold the middle section of the operated finger straight, and bend just the fingertip joint. Then hold the base of the finger and bend just the middle joint.
Rest your palm flat on a table and lift each finger off the table one at a time, then set it back down.
Several times a day, raise the hand above heart level and slowly open and close the fist to pump swelling out.
Call Dr. Kelly’s office at (509) 460-5588 for fever over 101°F, increasing redness or drainage at incisions, pain that is worsening instead of improving, or new numbness or tingling. For chest pain or trouble breathing, call 911.
Dr. Kelly sees patients at Tri-City Orthopedics in Kennewick.
Request an Appointment