Your thumb joint may be stiff and swollen, affecting the range of motion -- sometimes this is because of injury or arthritis. Performing various range of motion exercises can help rehabilitate your thumb to regain strength and flexibility in the joint. Do gentle range of motion exercises for your thumb on a daily basis, unless instructed otherwise by your doctor or physical therapist.
Thumb Slide
To perform the thumb slide movement, hold your hand in front of you with the outside edge pointed toward the floor and thumb extended toward the ceiling. Keep your four fingers together through the movement. Slowly bend your thumb down toward your pinky finger, bending the end joint and touching the base of your pinky with the tip of your thumb. Move the thumb back up to the start and repeat.
Thumb Roll
The thumb roll exercise starts with your hand out in front of you and palm facing up. Roll your thumb over and across your palm to touch the tips of your pinky and thumb together. Keep your thumb straight with no bend in the joints during the whole movement. Your pinky will likely move a little toward your thumb in order for the tips to touch.
Tip Pinch
The tip pinch exercise involves your thumb and all of your fingers. Hold your hand out in front of you with your palm facing up. Move the tip of your thumb to the tip of your index finger and gently squeeze the two together. Next, move it to your middle finger and do the same, then repeat with the final two fingers.
In and Out
To perform the in and out thumb exercise, start with your hand in front of you with the outside edge facing the floor and fingers together. Move your thumb so it points to the inside and is at the same level as your forefinger. Keeping the thumb straight, move it to the inside so it rests against your palm, even with the forefinger. Pause for a moment and repeat.
Palmar Abduction
Rest the back of your hand on a table or on your lap to begin the palmar abduction exercise. Let your thumb rest in the palm of your hand and then slowly raise your thumb up toward the ceiling, pause for a moment and move it back down to the table.
Considerations
In some cases, your pain level or lack of mobility may make it impossible for you to perform the range of motion exercises under your own power. In these instances, use your opposite hand to move the thumb through each range of motion passively. Move your thumb slowly, and stop if you still feel pain.
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