Your injury has been treated with a plaster cast. You have had a thorough examination and are now considered fit to be discharged. The following exercises will aid your recovery.
Exercises whilst in plaster
To be done while your wrist is in plaster
It is important to do these exercises for several reasons:
- To keep your joints as mobile as possible, that is, shoulder, elbow and fingers.
- To maintain some strength of the muscles in your arm and hand.
- To minimise painful swelling by improving the circulation.
Exercises
- Remove your arm from the sling before staring these exercises.
- The shoulder and elbow exercises must be done at least three times a day.
- The finger exercises should be done every hour.
Shoulder
- Lift your arm out sideways and then high above your head, 10 times.
- Lift your arm forwards and then high above your head, 10 times.
- Put your hand behind your lower back slowly, 10 times.
- Put your hand on the back of your neck, 10 times.
Elbow
- Bend your elbow as far as you can and then straighten it, 20 times.
Fingers
- Curl up all four fingers, bending them fully then straighten them right out – 10 times.
- Stretch your fingers out sideways so there is a gap between each one then press them together, squeeze and then relax – 10 times.
- Touch the tip of your thumb to the tip of your first/index finger, squeeze and release. Repeat with each finger 10 times.
General
Please note that it is very important that you do these exercises to make things easier for you when the plaster is removed.
It is also important to check that your plaster is not too tight.
If your fingers become cold and painfully swollen or look slightly blue, return to the hospital.
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