Patients' experiences of flexor tendon rehabilitation in relation to adherence: a qualitative study.

Patient's perception of the injury, the effectiveness of exercises, context and social support to manage daily life affected adherence to restriction, motivation and commitment to rehabilitation. The HBM as a theoretical framework can be beneficial for understanding factors that influence patients' adherence.Implications for RehabilitationInformation regarding the injury and consequences for the patient should be presented at different time points and in different ways, tailored to the patient.It' is important to aid patients to perceive the small gradual improvements in hand function to create motivation to adhere to exercise.Strategies to reduce the cost of adherence in terms of managing everyday life should be addressed by individually based strategies.Instructions regarding exercise and restrictions should be less complex and consider the patient's individual needs.