How to Improve Grip Strength After a Hand or Wrist Injury

After a wrist fracture, a sprain, or weeks in a splint, everyday things like opening a jar or carrying a bag can feel surprisingly hard. Grip strength usually comes back well with regular, graded practice. Here's how to approach it.

Always follow your surgeon's or therapist's timeline after a fracture or surgery. Stop any exercise that causes sharp pain, numbness or tingling.

Start with motion, not strength

A stiff hand can't grip well, so begin with range of motion:

• Tendon glides. Move through a straight hand, hook fist, full fist and flat fist. 10 slow rounds.
• Wrist bends. Rest your forearm on a table and gently bend the wrist up and down, then side to side.
• Warmth first. A few minutes with a warm pack makes stiff joints easier to move.

Add light resistance

When moving feels easier, begin to load the hand gently:

• Therapy putty squeezes. Squeeze a ball of putty with the whole hand, then pinch pieces off with thumb and each finger. Putty lets you adjust the effort to what your hand can do today.
• Finger extensions. Place a resistance band around your fingers and open them against it. This balances the gripping muscles.
• Soft ball squeezes. Hold for 3–5 seconds, 10–15 reps.

Build strength and endurance

• Grip strengthener. Start at the lightest setting for 2 sets of 10, and progress slowly.
• Finger exerciser. Press each finger individually to rebuild control and coordination.
• Wrist curls. With a light weight or a water bottle, curl the wrist up and down.

Support between sessions

A wrist brace can help during heavier tasks while strength returns, and a cold pack after exercise can calm any flare.

How long does it take?

It varies with the injury, but most people notice a difference within a few weeks of practising 10–15 minutes a day. Consistency matters more than intensity.

Everything in one kit

The Beyond Radix Hand & Wrist Recovery Kit includes therapy putty, a grip strengthener, finger exerciser, resistance band, therapy ring, squash ball, wrist brace and hot/cold pack, with 19 video-guided exercises in four phases.