Exercises for mallet finger

Mallet finger occurs when the tendon that straightens the fingertip is injured, sometimes with a small bone injury. The fingertip may droop and may not actively straighten. Repeatedly bending it before the tendon has been protected can separate the healing ends and prolong the recovery plan.

The middle and knuckle joints can often be moved while the fingertip remains supported, but the exact splint and movement instructions depend on the injury. Do not test the fingertip repeatedly to see whether it is better.

Keep the fingertip in the prescribed splint and follow the clinician’s instructions for bathing, skin checks, and replacement. If the fingertip bends while the splint is off, contact the treating team for advice rather than adding unsupervised exercises.

While protected, move the other finger joints as advised to reduce stiffness, keeping the injured fingertip supported. After the protection phase, a hand therapist may introduce gentle active straightening and bending, with gradual increases in use. Splinting is a treatment, not a sign that exercise has failed; tendon repair surgery is considered only in selected situations.

Arrange prompt review if the splint becomes loose, causes skin breakdown, the finger becomes numb or unusually pale, pain or swelling escalates, or the fingertip droops again. Urgent assessment is needed after a new injury or if circulation appears impaired.

Ask how long the fingertip must remain supported, how to protect it during washing and sleep, which joints you may move, and exactly when supervised fingertip exercises can start. Ask what to do if the finger bends accidentally.