All you guitar-pickers out there, I need your help. In July 2008 I broke my left hand in two places: a spiral fracture below the index finger and a plain old fracture below the ring finger. I have been in hand therapy since December for contractures of the PIP joint (first joint of finger) in the index, middle and ring fingers) and am using various splints to stretch the ring finger joint (under medical supervision.

I have recovered enough strength and range of motion in the hand to make a few chord shapes (D, A, G, Em) and to almost press the strings down enough to play a little. Other shapes (C, Dm) are really difficult for mw to make at all, much less change at song speed.

Questions:

1) Who has rehabbed his/her hand from fractures?

2) What are your favorite basic exercises for limbering up your fingers, building strength and stamina, etc.

By the way, I am right-handed and used to have light-to-moderate hand-strength (never could play full barre chords, for example, but could play half-barres)

I'm very interested to hear what you all have to say.

Thanks,

Sharyn