Wrist and Hand Pain
Although small in size, the wrist and hand have amazing dexterity and allow us to perform most of the tasks we take for granted daily. Injuries such as repetitive strain injury and carpal tunnel syndrome can cause considerable amounts of pain and discomfort to the area.
Common injuries of the wrist and hand
| Injury | Description |
|---|---|
| Fracture | A small break in any bone in the hand or wrist, often caused by falling onto an outstretched hand. |
| Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) | Pain in wrist and hand, usually accompanied by pain in shoulder and elbow caused by performing repetitive tasks in an inefficient or less than optimum manner. |
| Carpal Tunnel syndrome | Pain and tingling in the wrist and hand, more commonly experienced during pregnancy and also more frequently with office workers and people with repetitive jobs. |
| Sprains and dislocations | Usually from trauma such as falls or direct blow. |
Assessment
It is important to have the injury assessed by a trained physiotherapist as it is very common for people to ignore the problem hoping that it will dissapear. What starts off as a slight pain in the wrist can lead to a severe case of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) which can effectively debilitate you for an extended period of time where even the easiest of task will seem too painful to perform.
A physiotherapist will assess muscle length and strength in forearm and hand and identify areas of weakness. Ergonomic factors are also very important to stop the aggravating/causative factors.
Treatment
- Soft tissue therapy to loosen tight structures
- Strengthening exercises for weaker muscle groups
- Electrotherapy to help with stiffness, pain and improve healing of ligaments, muscles and tendons
- Specialised home exercised programme and ergonomics advice
- A specialised Pilates exercise programme to help with posture and body alignment which will help all RSI injuries.
Other Common Injuries
