Try Physiotherapy for Hand or Wrist Pain

When we consider joint pain and injuries it is natural to think about knees, hips and shoulders. The wrist and hand joints are often overlooked for the critical role they play in so many of our daily activities. Spend a moment thinking about all the things you use your hands for – work, sport, cooking, driving, your hobbies, brushing your teeth – the list is endless, every single day. 

You use your hands for highly dexterous tasks such as writing and typing as well as high power activities that include lifting large objects and gripping heavy shopping bags.The main role of the wrist is to position the hand by being the hinge between your arm and your hand.

The wrist and hand joints are complex, comprising many different bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and small joints that work together to enable a vast range of movements.

When pain develops in the hand or wrist it very quickly becomes evident how frustrating and debilitating it can be to be hindered in this area. The simplest of tasks that are taken for granted every day become arduous and tiring.

Hand and wrist injuries can be the result of overuse or acute trauma injuries to the area.

Hand & Wrist Overuse Injuries

Many overuse injuries can sneak up on you, gradually increasing in intensity over a period of time. They can be common amongst those beginning a new activity, increasing the frequency of an activity that uses the hand or exercising with a weight that is too heavy.

Sporting Injuries

Sports such as yoga, upper body training such as push ups or gymnastics require a lot of weight bearing through the hand and wrist. Because activities such as these are deceptively demanding they need a good baseline wrist strength to minimise injury. Mostly, our hands are free and in the air, not connected to the ground. Because the muscles that support the wrist are in the forearm, strength in this muscle group is helpful.

The soft tissues in the wrist can easily become overloaded so ensure any weight bearing movements are increased gradually and exercises to strengthen the surrounding muscles are incorporated.

Occupational Repetitive Strain Injury

Overuse injuries in the wrist area can also develop at work, in those people who carry out repetitive activities using their hands or have an increase in load such as typing or factory work. People new to a particular role are susceptible and those with a poor ergonomic workstation even more so.

One type of repetitive strain injury (RSI) is carpal tunnel syndrome. On the palm side of your wrist, the carpal tunnel is a narrow canal made of tendons, bones and ligaments. The median nerve passes through it to provide sensation to the thumb and three of your fingers. 

Repetitive flexion and extension in the wrist may thicken the sheath around the tendons in the carpal tunnel and compress the median nerve. Numbness, tingling or burning can be felt, with discomfort worse in the morning or at night. Weakness can occur in the thumb if this condition is left untreated for a long period of time.

Hand & Wrist Acute Trauma Injuries

Acute injuries include trauma to the hand and wrist such as a sprain or a fracture. Many of these injuries result from playing sport or from falling forwards or backwards with an outstretched hand. 

Wrist sprains are a relatively common injury from falling. The high impact of force when your hand hits the ground can cause the wrist to bend further than it is naturally capable of, and the stabilising ligaments are stretched too far and tear.

If the wrist area becomes very swollen and the pain is intense then the wrist may be fractured. A scan would be recommended, usually an x-ray, to determine the extent of the injury and further treatment will be necessary.

Physiotherapy for Wrist and Hand Injuries

For wrist sprains treatment will depend on the severity of the injury, with minor sprains only requiring some rest. Anti-inflammatory medication may be recommended for more major sprains. Taping or a brace may assist in the days following the injury and when the pain becomes manageable a physiotherapy treatment will be beneficial. 

Your physio will undertake a thorough assessment of the injury and will provide a specific rehab plan that includes progressive mobility and strength training for a safe and effective recovery.

Physiotherapists can recommend a wrist splint to help avoid too much movement in the wrist. As with strains, a mobility and strength treatment plan will restore any deficits in the area. In severe cases or those that persist surgery may be required.

Pain in the hand and wrist can really affect daily activities so don’t delay contacting Melbourne Sports Physiotherapy for a consultation. Their friendly and experienced team strives to have you moving pain free as soon as possible. Call to make an appointment or book online.