Begin with personal clearance
This reference is for adults personally taught and cleared for this task by their clinician or hand therapist. The CUH hand therapy guide describes active exercises in a clinical context. Finding this page does not establish suitability for your hand. Without personal instruction, ask before trying it. The beginner mobility guide supports broader planning, not permission for a hand exercise.
Name the joint before moving
The thumb has a tip joint called IP, a middle knuckle called MCP and a base joint called CMC. Here MCP moves between the first metacarpal and proximal thumb bone. It is not a finger's middle joint. In the thumb tip bend, support is nearer MCP and the tip moves. Changing the moving joint changes the support location. Check your instructions in plain words.
Support the base as taught
CUH describes an elbow supported on a table and the hand upright in the air. The other hand steadies the base around CMC and the first metacarpal while the middle joint bends and straightens slowly in the permitted range. Have your therapist confirm the exact contact and direction. Support steadies the base, without pushing the moving joint. Keep the tip relaxed rather than forcing it straight to imitate a picture.
Keep the dose and movement distinct
Follow your prescribed return position, range, repetitions and any hold. Do not copy a hold or fill in repetition blanks from a general leaflet. Add no resistance, pinch or supporting hand pressure. Thumb opposition brings the thumb toward fingertips; palmar thumb opening moves it away from the palm plane. The Kent thumb guide distinguishes these movements too. They are separate tasks, not interchangeable versions of this bend.
Record control and stop when needed
Note MCP, your taught support contact and whether the permitted movement stayed controlled. This is not a joint test or progress promise. Stop for pain, catching, new swelling, numbness, tingling or lost control and seek personal advice. Fitonomy Mobility is a fitness product, not a diagnostic tool or substitute for hand therapy. Article languages do not establish the app's language support.