Jammed Finger Exercises

A jammed finger can be both painful and distracting to live with for a few days or even weeks. A "jam" is an impact injury that forces a straightened finger back into the hand, compressing the knuckles more than they are designed to do and causing swelling, heat and pain. You need immediate treatment, as these injuries cause significant pain--but with proper treatment, including exercises, you can expect to recover fully.

Initial Treatment

• Ice and elevation are the first lines of attack for a jammed finger. Apply ice to the affected joint or joints and keep your hand elevated above your heart to promote circulation and reduce swelling in the injured area. If the swelling doesn't go down or you cannot move your finger without severe pain after a short time, see your doctor to determine if there is a fracture.

Rehabilitation

• Once you treat the injury and the pain and swelling are under control--usually several days later--you can begin physical therapy on the injured hand to regain strength and range of motion.

  Stretch: Gently stretch your fingers back toward the top of your forearm. Manually rotate your injured finger in a circular motion with your other hand. Pull your injured finger down toward the inside of your forearm. These movements help stretch the injured muscles and soft tissue, but be sure to do them gently at first.

  Squeeze a tennis ball: Hold a tennis ball, or a similar ball, in your hand and squeeze it as hard as your injured finger will allow. Hold this for a few seconds, then slowly release the pressure. Repeat this 10 or more times, then rest. Continue this exercise several times during the course of your day and it will help reactivate the muscles in your hand and forearm.

  Fingertip push-ups: Doing push-ups while holding your weight on your fingertips will both strengthen your hands and forearms and help build strength in your injured hand. Again, be careful that your finger has started to heal before you begin adding these exercises to your routine.

  Keep doing these exercises regularly and make sure you hand continues to heal, and you should be on the road to a complete recovery.