Elbow, Wrist & Hand

What It Is

Tendons are strong cords that connect muscles to bone. The tendons in your hands are used when you bend and straighten your fingers (NHS, 2025). The flexor tendons on the palm side bend the fingers, and the extensor tendons on the back of the hand straighten them. A finger tendon rupture is where one of these tendons tears or is pulled off the bone. A tendon can also be cut in an injury (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

A torn tendon is not a minor injury that heals with self-care. It needs to be checked by a doctor promptly.

What Causes Finger Tendon Ruptures?

Cuts: flexor tendon injuries most often happen from a cut on the palm side of the fingers, hand, wrist or forearm (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). Deep cuts and bites can damage hand tendons (NHS, 2025).
Sport: a sudden, forceful pull on the tendon can rupture it. In "jersey finger", a player's finger catches in another player's shirt and is pulled with great force, which can pull the tendon off the bone. It happens mostly in football, rugby and wrestling, and usually affects the ring finger (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.; Leggit and Meko, 2006).
Strong gripping: in activities that need a lot of hand strength, such as rock climbing, tendons and the tunnels they run through can be stretched or torn (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).
Health conditions: conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis weaken the tendons and make them more likely to tear. This can happen without any injury; you may simply notice that a finger no longer bends (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.; NHS, 2025).

A blow to the fingertip can also damage the tendon that straightens the end of the finger (mallet finger), which is covered in a separate sheet.

About Finger Tendons

Like a rubber band, the tendons are under tension as they connect muscle to bone. When the muscles contract, they pull on the tendons, which move the finger joints. If a tendon is torn or cut, the ends are likely to pull apart, and the gap between them means the tendon cannot heal on its own. Because the nerves and blood vessels to the fingers are very close to the tendons, they may be damaged as well, which can cause numbness (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

First Aid

While you are on your way to see a doctor

Wrap the hand firmly with a clean cloth or bandage to slow down any bleeding.
Rinse the wound with sterile saline if you have it, to reduce the risk of infection.
Apply ice or a cold pack to help reduce swelling.
Keep your hand raised above the level of your heart.

(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.)

Don't try to exercise or stretch the finger until it has been checked, as this could make the injury worse.

Getting Diagnosed

Anyone with a suspected tendon injury should see a doctor as soon as possible. Early assessment is important, because in general the sooner a torn tendon is repaired, the better the recovery (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). The doctor will ask you to bend and straighten your fingers, test your strength and feeling, and may order an X-ray (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). A suspected jersey finger should be referred to an orthopaedic or hand surgeon, and the outcome is worse if treatment is delayed (Leggit and Meko, 2006).

Hand therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists play an important part in recovery after the injury has been diagnosed and treated. Once your surgeon and hand therapist have cleared you, I can support that recovery too. See the My Approach tab for how I work.

How Long For A Finger Tendon Rupture To Heal?

There is little doubt that having an injured hand makes everyday life more difficult. Your ability to do simple tasks like driving, cleaning or writing could be affected. Individual recovery times vary. It can take up to 12 weeks after surgery before you start using your hand tendons again (NHS, 2025), and a repaired flexor tendon takes around 3 to 4 months to heal before the hand is strong enough to use without restrictions (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). Stiffness after surgery is common but usually responds to therapy (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). After a very bad injury, the tendons may be weaker and have less range of movement than before (NHS, 2025).

Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.

Symptoms

How It Feels

Symptoms

An inability to bend one or more joints of your finger

Pain when you try to bend your finger

Tenderness along the palm side of the finger

Numbness in your fingertip

A cut on the palm side of your hand, wrist or forearm

(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.)

Treatment

Self-Care & Treatment

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Options outside my scope

Tendon repair surgery: in most cases, a cut or torn tendon must be repaired by a surgeon, because tendons cannot heal unless the ends are touching (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.). Hand tendon repair is a common operation (NHS, 2025). If you have this operation, follow your surgical and hand therapy team's own instructions.
Splint and hand therapy: after surgery you will usually wear a splint for a number of weeks and have regular hand therapy sessions to learn exercises that protect the repair (NHS, 2025).
Treatment of partial tears: some partly torn tendons may not need surgery and can be treated with splinting and exercises, but only after a doctor has examined the injury (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).
Tenolysis: sometimes scar tissue makes the repaired tendon stick, and a further operation called tenolysis can free it (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

Easing the neck, shoulder and forearm while your hand is splinted
Scar work and tendon-gliding exercises once your team clears you
Rebuilding grip strength later, at your team's pace

Treatment

My Approach

After a finger tendon is repaired, it needs some controlled movement so it doesn't get stuck down by scar tissue, but too much force too soon can tear the repair. Your surgeon and hand therapist manage that balance with a splint and a very specific exercise schedule. I work strictly alongside their plan, never around it, and after surgery I need your surgeon's okay before any hands-on treatment. If your tear was treated without surgery, your doctor's plan comes first in the same way.

While It's Protected

Easing the neck, shoulder, upper arm and forearm, which tense up while your hand is splinted
Keeping your hand raised to help swelling, and keeping the joints that aren't involved moving
Your splint stays on exactly as instructed; strong gripping or using the hand unprotected can tear the repair

As You're Cleared

Tendon-gliding exercises (straight hand, hook fist, full fist), and later exercises that bend one joint at a time, only as your hand therapist allows
Once the wound has fully healed, scar work and gentle work along the tendon to help it glide, followed by gliding exercises
Gradual grip and strength work, building back towards your usual work, sport or lifting

If you feel a sudden pop or suddenly can't bend or straighten a finger, contact your surgeon or hand therapist straight away.

What to Expect

Typical Course

Typical course: While your hand is splinted, visits are usually short and about weekly. Once you're cleared to move the finger, most people come once or twice a week, then weekly, then less often. It can take up to 12 weeks after surgery before you use your hand tendons again, and around 3 to 4 months before the hand is strong enough to use without restrictions, following your team's plan.

What I Focus On

Working Within Your Team's Plan

Protecting the Repair

Compensation Relief

Scar & Tendon Gliding

Gradual Grip Strength

Please read

When to See a Doctor First

When to get emergency help

If you have a serious cut to your hand or finger, you think the blood supply to the finger may have been damaged, or you are worried your finger needs immediate attention, call 911 or go to the emergency room at your nearest hospital. Do not eat or drink anything in case you need surgery (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, n.d.).

Sources

References

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (n.d.) Flexor tendon injuries. OrthoInfo. Available at: https://www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/flexor-tendon-injuries/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
NHS (2025) Hand tendon repair. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-tendon-repair/ (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
Leggit, J.C. and Meko, C.J. (2006) 'Acute finger injuries: part I. Tendons and ligaments', American Family Physician, 73(5), pp. 810–816. Available at: https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2006/0301/p810.html (Accessed: 7 October 2026).

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooFinger Tendon Rupture

What It Is

What Causes Finger Tendon Ruptures?

About Finger Tendons

First Aid

Getting Diagnosed

How Long For A Finger Tendon Rupture To Heal?

How It Feels

Symptoms

Self-Care & Treatment

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

My Approach

While It's Protected

As You're Cleared

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to get emergency help

References

Related Conditions

Book a session

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooFinger Tendon Rupture

What It Is

What Causes Finger Tendon Ruptures?

About Finger Tendons

First Aid

Getting Diagnosed

How Long For A Finger Tendon Rupture To Heal?

How It Feels

Symptoms

Self-Care & Treatment

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor or nurse practitioner

My Approach

While It's Protected

As You're Cleared

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to get emergency help

References

Related Conditions

Finger Extensor Tendon Injury

Flexor Tendon Injuries

Triceps Tendon Tear

Bowler's Thumb

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