Hand injury? You might be surprised to learn what physiotherapy can do

Stirring sugar into your morning coffee, penning a card or a grocery list, shooting hoops with your rec league basketball team. Our hands allow us to perform all kinds of daily tasks, and injuries can range from being a nuisance to requiring medical attention. 

A common misconception about hand and wrist injuries is that pain and malfunction will recede on its own over time. In reality, many of these issues require early diagnosis and proper care, so it is important to book an appointment with an experienced therapist to get healing process underway! Education and exercise are the key to successful rehabilitation. 

Some of the most common hand injuries that our therapists treat include: 

• Tendonitis: Occurs when there is inflammation caused by micro-tears in tendons. Characterized by pain and general soreness, physiotherapists work to reduce swelling and bring back a functional range of motion. 
• Osteoarthritis typically occurs in middle to late adulthood, and results from the deterioration of bone and connective tissue in the hand and joints. It can cause discomfort and stiffness, as well as difficulty performing tasks with the hand. Physiotherapists can develop a specialized exercise program to promote strengthening, and provide manual therapy relief. 
• Sprains are injuries involving tendons and muscles, often caused by creating stress during a repetitive process. It can cause swelling, cramping, and difficulty performing daily tasks with the hands. Your Physiotherapist will work to decrease these uncomfortable symptoms and restore movement to the thumbs, hand, and wrist. 

Hand and wrist injuries can’t always be prevented, but you can decrease your likelihood of injury and re-injury down the road by avoiding repetitive work that puts stress on your joints. If you do have an injury that requires attention, book an assessment with one of our therapists to get going on the road to speedy and quality recovery!