What are Ulnar Nerve Glides? A Practical Guide

Have you ever experienced tingling, numbness, or pain in your ring and little fingers? Or perhaps you’ve felt that familiar “electric shock” sensation when you bump your elbow—your “funny bone”? These symptoms often point to ulnar nerve irritation, and as physiotherapists, one of the most effective treatments we use is ulnar nerve glides.

What Are Ulnar Nerve Glides?

Ulnar nerve glides are gentle, controlled exercises designed to help your ulnar nerve move smoothly through its pathway from your neck, around your elbow, and down into your hand. These movements act like “dental floss” for your nerve—encouraging better gliding and reducing sensitivity.

Your ulnar nerve needs to slide freely as you bend and straighten your elbow, especially since it passes through the narrow cubital tunnel on the inside of your elbow. When this nerve becomes compressed or irritated, it can cause uncomfortable symptoms that affect your daily activities.

Why We Prescribe Ulnar Nerve Glides

We commonly recommend ulnar nerve glides when you’re experiencing:

• Numbness or tingling in your ring and little fingers
• Pain on the inside of your elbow that radiates down your arm
• Weakness with gripping or pinching activities
• Symptoms that worsen when your elbow is bent for extended periods
• “Funny bone” sensitivity that doesn’t settle

These symptoms often indicate conditions such as:

• Cubital tunnel syndrome: The most common form of ulnar nerve compression at the elbow
• Ulnar nerve irritation: From repetitive elbow bending or prolonged pressure
• Post-injury nerve restriction: Following trauma or prolonged immobilization

Recent research shows that ulnar nerve gliding exercises can be particularly useful for moderate cubital tunnel syndrome, helping to reduce pain and improve function when combined with other conservative treatments.

Understanding Your Ulnar Nerve

Your ulnar nerve is sometimes called the “funny bone” nerve because it runs very close to the surface at your elbow, making it easy to bump accidentally. When you hit your “funny bone” and get numbness and tingling in your fingers as well as a sharp electrical pain, you are actually hitting your ulnar nerve.

This nerve controls important muscles in your hand that help with:

• Gripping and pinching strength
• Fine finger movements
• Coordination between your fingers

When the nerve can’t glide properly, particularly through the tight space at your elbow, you experience the symptoms that brought you to see us.

How We Teach Ulnar Nerve Glides

Before prescribing ulnar nerve glides, we conduct a thorough assessment that may include neurodynamic testing or specialized tests like the Upper Limb Tension Test to confirm that your ulnar nerve is involved in your symptoms.

If appropriate, here’s a basic ulnar nerve glide we commonly teach:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Starting position: Stand or sit comfortably with your shoulders relaxed
2. Begin: Extend your affected arm out to the side, palm facing up
3. Glide phase 1: Slowly bend your elbow, bringing your hand toward your shoulder (palm facing you)
4. Glide phase 2: Gently rotate your palm outward and bend your wrist so your fingers point toward your face
5. Return: Reverse the movement slowly back to the starting position
6. Repeat: Perform 5–10 smooth repetitions

Important Safety Note: This exercise should feel like a gentle stretch or mild tingling. If you experience sharp pain, significant numbness, or worsening symptoms, stop immediately and contact us.

What to Expect During Your Exercises

• A mild stretch sensation along your arm is normal
• Brief, light tingling may occur but shouldn’t persist after the exercise
• Start with small ranges of motion and few repetitions
• Aggressive mobilization of severely entrapped nerves may cause nerve elongation and thus exacerbate symptoms, which is why we start gently

Your symptoms should not worsen after performing the nerve glides. If they do, we need to modify your program.

When We Don’t Recommend Ulnar Nerve Glides

We avoid prescribing ulnar nerve glides if you have:

• Severe nerve compression with significant weakness
• Recent trauma or surgery to the elbow or arm
• Rapidly worsening symptoms
• Signs of severe nerve damage

This is why a proper assessment with our team is essential—we ensure the exercises are safe and appropriate for your specific condition, often using comprehensive neurodynamic testing as part of our evaluation.

How Ulnar Nerve Glides Fit Into Your Treatment Plan

Nerve glides are most effective when combined with other treatments:

Comprehensive Care Approach:

• Activity modification: Avoiding positions that compress the nerve
• Ergonomic education: Proper workplace and sleeping positions
• Strengthening exercises: Building support in surrounding muscles
• Manual therapy: Hands-on techniques to improve tissue mobility
• Posture correction: Addressing contributing factors from your neck and shoulder

This integrated approach ensures we’re addressing both your symptoms and their underlying causes.

Preventing Future Ulnar Nerve Problems

Along with nerve glides, we’ll teach you how to:

• Avoid prolonged elbow bending (especially while sleeping or talking on the phone)
• Use proper ergonomics at work and during activities
• Recognize early warning signs of nerve irritation
• Modify activities that put excessive pressure on your elbow

Taking the Next Step

Ulnar nerve glides can be highly effective for reducing symptoms and improving function when taught and monitored by experienced physiotherapists. However, they’re not suitable for everyone, and the technique must be tailored to your specific condition and symptoms.

If you’re experiencing numbness, tingling, or pain in your ring and little fingers, don’t ignore it. Early intervention with appropriate treatment—including properly prescribed nerve glides—often leads to much better outcomes than waiting for symptoms to worsen.

Our experienced team at Northwest Physiotherapy Group specializes in nerve tension testing and treatment. We’ll conduct a thorough assessment, determine if ulnar nerve glides are right for you, and create a comprehensive treatment plan to get you back to comfortable, pain-free movement.

Book your appointment today and let us help you understand and treat the true cause of your symptoms.

References

• Shacklock M. Clinical Neurodynamics: A New System of Musculoskeletal Treatment. Elsevier; 2005.
• Butler DS. The Sensitive Nervous System. NOI Group; 2000.
• Yagata Y, et al. Clinical outcomes of ulnar nerve gliding exercise in the nonoperative treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome. Journal of Hand Surgery. 2025;50(3):234-241.