Chronic Pain

De Quervain's Tenosynovitis exercise guide

Inflammation of the thumb-side tendons (abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis) causing pain at the base of the thumb and radial wrist. Common in new parents, texters, and repetitive hand workers.

Prescriptions

Cautions

Safety notes

AVOID heavy pinch grip, repetitive thumb deviation under load, painful radial deviation movements. CAUTION with putty pinch and radial deviation raises. GOOD: gentle ROM, isometrics, neutral wrist strengthening, finger extensor bands if pain-free. Consider thumb spica splint for symptom management.

Contraindications

Use Caution

Putty Pinch: Pinch grip loads the thumb tendons affected by De Quervain's

Modify: Keep very light and pain-free or skip

Use Caution

Radial Deviation Raise: Radial deviation raise loads the affected tendons

Modify: Keep very light and pain-free or skip

Use Caution

Radial Deviation Isometric: Even isometric radial deviation can stress De Quervain's tendons

Modify: Keep mild effort

Avoid Completely

heavy_pinch_grip: Heavy pinching loads the thumb tendons causing De Quervain's pain

Modify: Avoid heavy pinch tasks; use whole-hand grip instead

Prescribed exercise pathways

Phase and safety-level mappings make condition guidance actionable for home programs, clinician plans, and future personalization.

Prescriptions are being reviewed

This condition module is live; exercise prescriptions will appear as reviewed mappings are published.