Handtherapy

What are wrist complaints?

Specific complaints have an obvious cause. For example, a wrist fracture after a hard fall on the wrist or a finger fracture after catching a ball with the finger extended. Additional diagnostics will determine this. There is often a rehabilitation process attached to such events and the hand therapist can help you with this.
Wrist pain is characterized by injury to the wrist. This is usually an injury following trauma, such as a fall on the outstretched hand. This can cause the ligaments and capsule around the wrist to be stretched and sometimes torn. The cartilage or ligaments in the wrist may also be damaged. Swelling and possibly blue discoloration develops. This causes pressure pain in and around the wrist and you can’t move your wrist joint as well. Overuse can also cause wrist pain. There is chronic irritation of soft tissue such as muscles, tendons and ligaments. This overuse is caused by difficult, repetitive or (too) heavy activities, work or sports. Movement of the wrist joint is then limited and painful.

Symptoms of wrist pain

• After trauma, you can recognize injuries to the wrist by.
• (Pressure) pain and warmth around the wrist joint.
• Impediment in moving the wrist.
• Swelling of the wrist joint.
• Discoloration of the wrist joint.

Overuse of the wrist can be recognized by:

• Pain in the wrist that occurs at the beginning, during or after exertion.
• Pain when bending and stretching.
• Pain after prolonged movement.
• Pain when moving against resistance or lifting heavy objects.
• Swelling and sometimes heat and rednes.

Treatment for a wrist injury

A physical therapist can give you advice on how to use your hand and wrist in the first phase after the injury. In addition, he can reduce edema (swelling) and better adjust your load to your capacity. After one or two weeks -when any swelling has recovered- you can start with exercise therapy. These exercises will improve your mobility, coordination and muscle strength in the wrist(s). A physical therapist can also educate you on pain relief, how to engage your wrist/hand and how to prevent the symptoms from returning.

Handtherapy is offered at bbb Jordaan by Michelle Klaver – michelle@bbbfysiotherapie.nl.