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In the Hand Surgery Department or the Orthopaedics Department, being able to furl a fist slightly was an indicator as a hand's recovery.

A slight furl was not exactly equivalent to a normal person forming a fist. The fingers were only required to touch the palm. The fingers should be slightly bent but not completely bent. Depending on the severity of tendon injuries, being able to gently furl a fist within twenty-four hours to three weeks post-surgery was regarded as an ideal result.

Most importantly, it indicated that the patient's tendon was basically healed, and the risk of the tendon splitting was favorably low.

With this, all sorts of active rehabilitation practices could commence, and the scope of physiotherapy activities available were wider.

Be it from a medical point of view, the patient's perspective towards his or her own recovery, or economic considerations, the sooner the patient was able to execute a light grip, the better.