Certified Hand Therapyin Philadelphia, Trenton & Surrounding Cities

Hand therapy is an excellent way to ease hand and wrist pain, stiffness, and weakness. Physical therapy for the hand and wrist will prioritize mobilizing the small joints in the area, strengthening the muscles, and correcting harmful movement patterns. It is important to seek PT early in the healing process when you injure your hand or wrist so they can function normally as quickly as possible.

Common Causes of Hand & Wrist Pain

Hand and wrist pain are usually related and can happen from an injury or gradually over time. Sudden hand and wrist pain may happen due to muscle strains, ligaments sprains, or fractures. One of the most common ways to injure the hand and wrist is to break a fall with an outstretched hand. Over time, conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and arthritis can happen due to overuse and poor strength. Carpal tunnel syndrome will create pain and numbness in the wrist and fingers. Osteoarthritis can occur in any joints in the hand or wrist, and happens most frequently in the base of the thumb. Hand physical therapy and physical therapy for wrist are both ways to restore your hand and wrist function to normal.

Best Exercises for Hand & Wrist

Physical therapy for hand involves many exercises to restore mobility, strength, and controlled use of the hand and wrist. Your PT may have you work on strengthening your grip with putty, work on dexterity with specific tasks, and stretch your forearm and wrist by pulling your hand back toward your arm. They will tell you the specifics on how often and how many times to do each exercise at home.

How A Physical Therapist Can Help

Physical therapists are highly trained professionals to help hand and wrist pain, especially if they are certified hand therapists. Your physical therapist will conduct a thorough examination to determine what is causing your wrist and hand pain and work to treat the deficits in strength, mobility, and functional use. The goal is to return functional use of the hand and wrist to before the patient started feeling any pain or was injured. Physical therapy can improve pain after surgery, from a sprain or strain, or from an injury gradually developed. Make sure to schedule an appointment at Strive PT so our therapists can help solve your pain.

Hand Therapy works to relieve pain in the hands, wrist, or shoulder due to:

• Post Surgical Care
• Carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, thoracic outlet syndrome, and other nerve entrapment disorders
• Tendon and nerve injuries
• Sports injuries
• Workers' compensation injuries
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Fractures and dislocations
• Arthritis