Physical Therapy For Hand Pain
No matter the cause of your hand pain – carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis or any other condition – physical therapy can help. A physical therapist will not only relieve your discomfort but also enhance the quality of your life.
The hands and fingers are intricate structures composed of bones, joints and muscles that can be highly vulnerable to injuries such as bone fractures or muscle strains.
If you are suffering from hand pain, your therapist will assess the source of the issue and craft a treatment plan to get you back to full functionality.
Hand pain treatment typically entails manual therapy, exercise prescription, splinting and other rehabilitative techniques. These interventions have been known to reduce pain, improve strength and function while decreasing the need for surgery.
Manual therapy involves manual movement of the hand, wrist and forearm to reduce joint stiffness, increase range of motion (ROM), strengthen tendons and muscles – helping patients avoid surgery so they can return to work or other daily activities more quickly.
Additionally, rehabilitative exercises can assist patients in improving grip strength and dexterity. Studies have demonstrated that combining manual therapy with these exercises is effective at relieving arthritis-related pain.
Physical therapy is often recommended for hand conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and trigger finger. Each condition presents with distinct symptoms and requires a tailored approach for treatment.
CTS (carpal tunnel syndrome) is a painful condition that can affect the entire arm and wrist. It’s caused by pressure on the median nerve running through the carpal tunnel in the wrist, which may be triggered by repetitive activities like using a computer or typing on a keyboard. Other factors like driving a car or operating machinery with vibration also aggravate symptoms of CTS.
Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendons, which are rope-like structures connecting muscle to bone in the hand and wrist. If left untreated, tendonitis may progress to tendinosis–a more serious condition in which the tendons become overly tough and rigid.
Your therapist may prescribe an exercise program tailored to your diagnosis in order to help you regain strength and range of motion in your hand and wrist. These exercises can be done from home, allowing you to return to daily tasks, hobbies, and sports more easily.
Trigger finger is a condition in which one of the fingers develops an intense sensitivity to certain movements, making it difficult for people to use their hand effectively. This sensitivity may be caused by inflammation in surrounding tissue around the tendons or by their becoming overly tight or stiff themselves.
These symptoms can be debilitating and prevent you from living the life you deserve. But they can be managed with some simple self-care strategies and regular visits to your healthcare provider.
Physical therapy for hand pain can be beneficial to people of all ages. If you’re struggling with this issue, contact Connections Physical Therapy today to find a physical therapist near you!