Wrist fracture recovery Getting motion, grip and hand use back after a broken wrist

A broken wrist is one of the most common fractures, usually from putting a hand out to break a fall. The most frequent type is a distal radius fracture, a break at the end of the larger forearm bone just above the wrist. Whether it is treated in a cast or with surgery, the bone usually heals well; the harder part is getting motion, grip and confidence back afterward. This guide covers wrist fracture recovery from the cast to full use. For healing times of other broken bones, see our guide to fracture recovery.

Wrist fracture recovery timeline

• Weeks 0 to 6: cast, splint or a short period of protection after surgery. Keep the hand raised in the first days to limit swelling
• Weeks 6 to 8: the cast comes off; the wrist is stiff, weak and often swollen, and gentle motion exercises begin
• Weeks 8 to 12: strength and grip work, with light lifting once your doctor confirms the bone has healed
• 3 to 6 months: most daily tasks, work and many sports return
• Up to a year: the last bit of motion and grip strength can keep improving

Timing depends on the type of break, your age, bone health and whether you had surgery, so your treating physician’s instructions come first.

While you are in the cast

What you do in the first weeks shapes how stiff the hand is later:

• Make a full fist and then straighten the fingers wide, ten times every hour you are awake
• Touch your thumb to each fingertip
• Move the elbow and shoulder through their full range each day, so they do not stiffen too
• Keep the hand above heart level when it swells

Call your doctor if the cast feels too tight, the fingers turn pale, blue or cold, or numbness keeps getting worse.

Hand therapy exercises after the cast comes off

The first video shows the kind of work a hand therapist uses: fine motor tasks with a pegboard and a light dumbbell for the wrist. A typical progression, once your doctor clears you:

Motion first

1. Wrist bends: with the forearm resting on a table and the hand over the edge, bend the wrist gently up and down. 10 times.
2. Palm up, palm down: elbow bent at your side, turn the palm to face the ceiling, then the floor.
3. Side to side: slide the hand toward the thumb and toward the little finger on the table.
4. Prayer stretch: press the palms together in front of your chest and lower them slowly until you feel a stretch.

Then grip and strength

5. Putty or ball squeezes for grip; see grip strength exercises
6. Light dumbbell wrist curls, palm up and palm down, starting with a small can or 1 to 2 lb
7. Flexible bar twists, like the second video, to build forearm and grip strength together
8. Fine motor tasks: picking up coins, buttons or pegs, writing and using utensils

A warm-up of the hand in warm water before exercise often makes the first weeks easier. Mild aching that settles within an hour is expected; sharp pain is a sign to ease off.

Why occupational and hand therapy helps

A wrist fracture affects more than the bone. Swelling, scar tissue after surgery and weeks without use can leave the wrist and fingers stiff and the grip weak. An occupational therapist who specializes in the hand and arm measures motion and grip, uses hands-on techniques like those in the second video, and builds a plan around the tasks you need, from typing to lifting a child. Our occupational and hand therapy is offered only at the Brooklyn office.

When to get the wrist checked

See a doctor if pain is getting worse instead of better, the wrist looks crooked again, there is no progress in motion after a few weeks of exercise, or you have numbness and tingling in the thumb, index and middle fingers. That last pattern can mean pressure on the median nerve, the nerve involved in carpal tunnel syndrome, which sometimes follows a wrist fracture. A physician can examine the wrist and, if needed, order EMG and nerve conduction testing. Severe, burning pain with swelling and skin color changes also needs prompt attention. Our wrist and hand pain treatment page covers other causes, from sprains to tendon problems.

Related care at Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance

Hand therapy for a broken wrist near you

Looking for occupational therapy in Brooklyn after a wrist fracture? Valerie Khodorkovskiy, OTR/L, our occupational therapist for upper extremity and fine motor injuries, sees patients at the Brooklyn office on Shell Rd, convenient to Midwood, Gravesend, Marine Park and Bensonhurst. Ashley Marcus, MD examines wrist and hand injuries at the same office, so your therapist and physician can work together. Hand therapy is offered only in Brooklyn.

Searching for a hand pain doctor near me on Staten Island? Jake Stephen, DO sees patients at our Staten Island office, a short drive from New Dorp, Dongan Hills and Grant City. In Manhattan, Yuri Gordin, MD sees patients at the Precision Care Spine & Pain Center in Midtown Manhattan, within easy reach of Midtown East, Spanish Harlem and Washington Heights; therapy is not offered at the Manhattan office. Request an appointment or call the office closest to you.

Questions patients ask

Educational only, not medical advice. These videos and this article explain common problems and treatments in general terms. They are not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you. Results vary from person to person. See a qualified clinician about your own symptoms, and call 911 or go to an emergency room for an emergency.

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