You’ve probably heard of physical therapy and hand therapy before, but maybe you don’t know what they’re for? Or maybe you think hand therapy is just something for pro-athletes? That it’s nothing more than a good massage? We’re here to set the record straight.
Hand therapy is a fantastic healing method that can be used for a variety of injuries and conditions. Therapy is a great way to help you avoid having surgery or taking large doses of painkillers. So with that in mind, here are 3 conditions that hand therapy can potentially help you with.
3 Conditions Hand Therapy Can Help With
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
If you have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, you might be able to avoid invasive surgery by trying therapy instead. Inflammation in the hand and wrist causes carpal tunnel syndrome. This inflammation can put pressure on the median nerve. This causes pain and discomfort which is further exacerbated by more repetitive movement (such as typing). Hand therapy can help to reduce the inflammation.
Plus, at Desert Hand and Physical Therapy, we manufacture our own splints in-house. This means we can create a splint specifically for your needs which will help your hand and wrist get the rest they need and reduce painful inflammation.
Trigger Finger
Trigger finger is a painful condition that can also be caused by repetitive movement, particularly in women between the ages of 52 and 62. This condition happens when swelling and inflammation presses against the tendons in your finger, causing the finger to either freeze in one position or “snap back” to another position.
Like with carpal tunnel syndrome, hand therapists can provide you with splints in order to rest the tendons and muscles in the hands. Additionally, they can use methods and exercises to help ease the stiffness, reduce pain, and strengthen the muscles and tendons in the hand.
Nerve damage
Nerve damage can be tricky – but hand therapy can help save the day! If you’ve experienced nerve damage, hand therapists can help you to “educate the damaged nerves” through a process called sensory reeducation exercise. Sensory reeducation is a method of exercising the hand in order to re-teach the brain how to use it, and ultimately help you achieve maximum functionality again.
Consult a physician first.
If you have injured your hand or wrist, you need to consult a doctor first before opting for therapy. A plan of action can be put in place once you have a proper diagnosis. Sometimes hand therapy isn’t always enough. Surgery will often be required if a condition is considered severe enough. Keep in mind that hand therapy is best for milder injuries, pain management, and for healing and strengthening after surgery.
While hand therapy isn’t right for everyone, it can make a huge difference for many people. We believe that fully healing the body instead of masking the pain is the best way to go. Book an appointment with Desert Hand and Physical Therapy today. Let us help you get back to the activities you love!
