Thumb Passive Stretches

Aim

The exercises on this sheet are designed to try and help improve the range of movement in your thumb by helping to maintain/stretch your joints, muscles and tendons.

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 in a slow and controlled manner as advised by your therapist. Remember: long slow stretches are more effective than short sharp ones.

Complete these exercises …… times a day …… reps.

Exercise 1

• Stretch the thumb up towards the sky, using the other hand, until you feel a stretch and hold for 30 seconds.

Exercise 2

• Stretch the thumb down to the little finger, using the other hand, until you feel a stretch and hold for 30 seconds.

Exercise 3

• Stretch the thumb away from the fingers/hand, using the other hand, until you feel a stretch and hold for 30 seconds.

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