If you are suffering from the painful condition of thumb tendinitis (or thumb tendonitis), your doctor may recommend that you begin a series of exercises to make sure you'll be able to regain the strength in your hand. Although it may hurt at first to begin the exercises, it is a good idea to continue through the pain so that you'll help stretch your tendon and restore it to its original strength.
The Thumbs Up
Start with your hands in fists with your thumb on top of your fingers, parallel to the ceiling. Slowly raise your thumb toward the ceiling in a "thumbs up" motion, holding for a count of five before releasing. Try and do this motion at least five times in a row before relaxing. Work your way up to increasing to 10 times in a row.
The Hand Stretch
Place your hands in a fist as your starting position. Next, move your fingers out so they are stretched as if you were holding up five digits. Stretch them as wide as you can, until you feel a stretch in all five of your fingers. Hold for a count of five and then release. Work your way up to increasing to 10 times in a row.
Thumb Stretches
Start with your hands in a position as if you were showing five digits on your fingers. Move your thumb so it is touching the knuckle of your pinky finger. Move it until you feel a stretch. Hold for a count of five and then release. Continue this exercise five times in a row and work your way up to 10 times in a row.
Thumbs Down
Begin with your hands in a fist. Slowly stretch your hand as if you were showing five digits, but make your thumb go a little bit further down toward your arm. Hold for a count of five and then release, repeating five times in a row. Try and increase until you can go on for a count of 10.
References
Writer Bio
Writing since 2008, Fiona Miller has taught English in Eastern Europe and also teaches kids in New York schools about the Holocaust. Her work can be found on Overstock.com, ConnectED and various other Web sites. Miller holds a B.A. in French from Chapman University and an M.A. in educational theater from New York University.