Isolated Tendon Glides

Aim

These exercises focus on gliding the two tendons that bend the fingers. Ensuring that these tendons glide well is important for movement.

General advice

It can be ‘normal’ to feel some aching or discomfort when you first start exercising, but these symptoms should settle quite quickly. If you feel the exercises are causing you intense and lasting pain (eg: for more than 30 minutes), change the exercise by doing it less forcefully or less often and let your therapist know next time.

Instructions

You should work through the exercises bending and straightening your fingers as shown in the pictures below. Your therapist will run through the exercises with you.

Complete these exercises …… times a day …… reps

Exercise 1

• Using your other hand, hold the finger just beneath the top joint to block the joint below from bending.
• Bend and straighten the top joint with as much force as you are able.

Exercise 2

• Using your other hand, hold just beneath the middle joint of the finger, holding around the area you would wear a ring. 
• Bend and straighten the finger at the middle joint only. 

Contact numbers

We hope that you have found this information useful. If you have any questions, you can contact the Hand Therapy Department on 01305 255931.

About this leaflet

Author: Felicity Tucker
Written: January 2026
Approved: January 2026
Review date: January 2029
Edition: v1

If you have feedback regarding the accuracy of the information contained in this leaflet, or if you would like a list of references used to develop this leaflet, please email patientinformation.leaflets@dchft.nhs.uk