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Exercises

Swan Neck Deformity Exercises

Finger and wrist exercises for swan neck deformity.

Drawing of a finger showing flexion (bending) and hyperextension (bending backward) at its joints.

Exercise 1: Finger Passive Range of Motion: Flexion and Extension

  1. The target hand should be fully relaxed while your other hand does all the work (self-passive range of motion).
  2. Use your unaffected hand to hold your affected fingertip.
  3. Use your unaffected hand to bend your affected fingertip and middle knuckle as shown. Then straighten your finger. Repeat.
Two hands holding a fingertip, using one hand to bend the other hand's finger.
Repeat
10 times
Hold
5 seconds
Sets
2
Per day
2 times

Exercise 2: Finger Abduction

  1. Put your hand on a flat surface. Spread (abduct) all of your fingers.
  2. Start without a resistance band.
  3. As tolerated, add a band to the affected finger for more strengthening.
Two pictures of a hand flat on a towel with a yellow rubber band around two fingers, first together and then spread apart.
Repeat
10 times
Sets
3
Per day
2 times

Exercise 3: Wrist Flexion

  1. Rest your forearm on a flat surface with your palm facing the ceiling.
  2. Hold a weight in your hand and slowly lift your wrist up towards the ceiling.
  3. Increase the weight as tolerated.
Drawing of a forearm resting on a table while a hand holding a small weight lifts the wrist upward.
Repeat
10 times
Sets
3
Per day
2 times

Exercise 4: Wrist Extension

  1. Start: Sit with your arm supported at 90 degrees, with your palm face down off the end of the table as pictured.
  2. Movement: With a dumbbell in your hand, extend your wrist against gravity. Return to the start position and repeat.
  3. Increase the weight as tolerated.
Two pictures of a forearm resting palm down with the hand off the edge of a table, holding a dumbbell and lifting it.
Repeat
10 times
Sets
3
Per day
2 times

Exercise 5: Rubber Band Extension

  1. Place a rubber band around your fingers.
  2. Slowly spread your fingers apart.
  3. As tolerated, progress to a tighter band.
A hand with a blue rubber band around the fingers, spreading the fingers apart.
Repeat
10 times
Hold
1 second
Sets
3
Per day
2 times

Exercise 6: Ball Hook Grip

  1. With an elastic ball, firmly squeeze it in the palm of your hand with a HOOK GRIP as shown.
  2. Increase resistance as tolerated.
A hand squeezing a small elastic ball with the fingers curled in a hook grip.
Repeat
10 times
Hold
1 second
Sets
3
Per day
2 times

More information

You can learn about causes, treatments and exercises for swan neck deformity at OrthoEducation: orthoeducation.com/handeducation/swan-neck-deformity-of-the-fingers.