We constantly use our hands, arms, and elbows, whether we’re working, playing, or simply relaxing. Our upper body has a big job to do, and it won’t be able to do it if you have pain or joint stiffness in any of these areas.
The good news is that there is a safe and effective way to treat upper extremity pain and discomfort at our clinic: hand and occupational therapy.
Our clinic has a fantastic team of skilled therapists who can not only diagnose your condition and treat your symptoms, but also prevent future pain.
Please contact Hand in Hand Rehabilitation in New York, NY, or Carle Place, NY to learn more about our therapeutic services and how they can help you.
Why am I experiencing upper extremity pain?
Common causes of joint, elbow, hand, and/or wrist pain include:
- Poor posture
- Bursitis, a condition in which the fluid-filled sacs (bursae) in the elbow become inflamed
- Heavy lifting
- Sports injuries
- Workplace accidents
- Muscle sprain or strain
- Joint dislocation or hyperextension
Various conditions can cause pain or weakness in your hands, wrists, joints, or elbows.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common cause of hand and wrist pain. You may have this condition if you notice your hands, wrists, or forearms ache on a daily basis, or if typing and lifting have become particularly difficult and uncomfortable for you.
Your carpal tunnel is a narrow channel located on your wrist under your palm that is about the width of your thumb. It safeguards the median nerve as well as the tendons that allow you to bend your fingers. Excessive pressure on the median nerve causes crowding and irritation of the carpal tunnel, making it difficult for it to function properly.
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes painful stinging sensations when moving the arm, hand, or wrist. The pain usually spreads to the fingers, hands, wrists, or forearms. Overuse of the wrist and regular, repetitive motions, such as typing or writing, can lead to this condition.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is an overuse injury that causes inflammation of the tendons in the forearm, making lifting and moving the arm painful and difficult. This condition can cause pain to spread throughout the upper extremity.
While it is most common in tennis players, it can also be caused by other sports and activities such as softball, baseball, raking leaves, and even excessive computer typing.
Arthritis
There are many different types of arthritis, but one thing they all have in common is that they cause mild to severe pain in the joints, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Arthritis pain is also directly related to mobility limitations in these areas. This condition can affect anyone at any age, but it is most common in the hands of aging adults. It causes swelling, stiffness, weakness, and inflammation, making it difficult to grasp items or move the hands and fingers comfortably.
How can therapy relieve my pain?
Occupational therapy
Our clinic’s occupational therapy services provide a non-invasive, safe, and effective treatment option for pain caused by a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries, workplace injuries, overuse injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, and more.
The goal of an occupational therapist is to show you new ways to do things you’ve been unable to do because of pain. For example, if you develop carpal tunnel syndrome from constantly sitting at your computer and typing all day for work, you may find it difficult to do your job because you are in pain.
They can assist you in improving your workspace and making it more ergonomic in order to reduce the risk of injury in the future. You’ll also learn how to sit properly, position your shoulders, hands, and wrists as you type, and stretch throughout the day to keep your body relaxed while working.
Hand therapy
A hand therapist can help you regain and maintain as much strength and range of motion as possible if you have arthritis pain or are recovering from a sports-related injury such as tennis elbow. Hand therapists use safe and conservative techniques to treat pain in the elbows, hands, and joints.
Your hand therapist can assist you in determining the best treatment methods for your specific needs and designing an individualized treatment plan accordingly. They can also assist you in determining the best range of motion and strength-building activities to reduce your chances of worsening or developing your condition again in the future.
Hand therapy aims to help you return to your normal work, home, and sports activities without pain in your hands and upper extremities. Your hand therapist can assist you in determining which activities are exacerbating your symptoms and will discuss any activity modifications you may need to make.
Modalities, as well as stretching and strengthening of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand, may be used in your treatment. Heat, cold laser, iontophoresis, ultrasound, and massage are examples of such technologies.
Are you looking for upper extremity pain relief?
Whether you have arthritis and joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, or an injury to your elbow or wrist, our team of physical and occupational therapists will gladly assess and treat your condition. Contact Hand in Hand Rehabilitation to request an appointment.
