After an adult patient with a laceration to the flexor tendons has healing completed, what is the most critical exercise to include in their home program?

Including tendon gliding exercises in the home program for an adult patient who has completed healing from a laceration to the flexor tendons is crucial for several reasons. Tendon gliding exercises are specifically designed to promote optimal movement and function of the tendons, which can be compromised after injury and subsequent healing.

These exercises help to keep the tendons mobile within their sheaths and can prevent adhesions that might develop during the healing process. By ensuring that the tendons are gliding smoothly, these exercises encourage range of motion and prevent stiffness in the involved joints, which is essential for restoring normal hand function. Moreover, tendon gliding plays a key role in enhancing blood flow to the tendon area, promoting healing and reducing the likelihood of complications such as tendon rupture or re-tearing.

While other types of exercises, such as passive stretching and strengthening, are also important for recovery, they do not specifically address the primary concern of promoting tendon mobility and preventing adhesions. Fine motor coordination tasks are beneficial for functional recovery but are typically implemented after the initial mobility and tendon health have been sufficiently addressed. Therefore, focusing on tendon gliding exercises is the most critical step in the early phase of rehabilitation following flexor tendon injury.