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Elbow, Wrist and Hand Injuries

 

Medial Epicondylitis

It is a painful elbow condition occurring on the inside of the elbow around the bony structures. The muscles that extend the wrist backwards attach onto the arm bones at this point. With overuse of their tendons, muscle-tendon junctions or muscle bellies they can become inflamed.

What do I look for?

  • Pain, usually gradual in its onset, on the inner side of the elbow either with activity or to touch
  • Pain when grasping an object
  • Pain with repetitive actions such as washing the dishes or cleaning a surface
  • Usually on your dominant arm
  • Pain may subside after a day or two, but increase again after the aggravating activity
  • Pain may be constant and interrupt sleep

 

What causes it?

  • Repetitive hand movements such as using scissors, gardening, weeding, throwing objects, repetitive lifting or manual occupations such as plumbing and brick laying
  • Weakness and inflexibility in the muscles of the forearm.

 

When do you see someone for help?

Your Physiotherapy4u Practitioner will be able to provide an accurate diagnosis and an appropriate management plan. Often this problem can require a Sports Medicine Doctor, Physiotherapist, and/or Podiatrist to assist.

For more information contact us

 

Golfers Elbow Medial Epicondylitis

Golfers Elbow Medial Epicondylitis is a painful elbow condition occurring on the inside of the elbow around the bony structures. The muscles that extend the wrist backwards attach onto the arm bones at this point, with overuse of their tendons, muscle-tendon junctions or muscle bellies they can become inflamed.

Repetitive hand movements such as using scissors, gardening, weeding, throwing objects, repetitive lifting or manual occupations such as plumbing and brick laying can cause pain in the elbow.

It can also be caused by weakness and inflexibility in the muscles of the forearm.

What do I look for?

  • Pain, usually gradual in its onset, on the inner side of the elbow either with activity or to touch.
  • Pain when grasping an object.
  • Pain with repetitive actions such as washing the dishes or cleaning a surface.
  • Usually on your dominant arm.
  • Pain may subside after a day or two, but increase again after the aggravating activity.
  • Pain may be constant and interrupt sleep.

 

 When do I see the Physio?

Physios can provide accurate diagnosis and use a range of techniques, electrotherapeutic modalities and specific exercises to settle down your symptoms. Feel free to ask any of our friendly physios about this injury.

Do I see my doctor?

If symptoms persist, your doctor may be able to assist with issues such as medication and further investigations/scans. Your physiotherapist will advise when you need to see your doctor

For more information contact us

 

Fingers Not To Be Forgotten

Strains of our finger joints are often very poorly managed and commonly not treated at all. This can lead to chronic pain, and a joint that remains swollen and painful for months after what seemed like a relatively minor injury.

Finger strains are most commonly sustained by an angulation force commonly experienced in sports such as basketball and netball. The ligaments are often torn. This leads to soft tissue thickening of the joint with the formation of inflexible scar tissue and painful adhesions.

The athlete will often present with a painful, swollen, bruised and stiff finger. Unfortunately many of these ‘strains’ are left not only untreated but incorrectly diagnosed. On x-ray a break in the bone is not uncommon or evidence of a recent dislocation may go unnoticed. Premature return to the playing arena without professional guidance can lead to re-injury.

Other injuries commonly seen are breaks or fractures of the bone at the base of the thumb usually due to a direct blow of the tip of the thumb. This is commonly experienced in boxers.

Injuries like this left undiagnosed can lead to chronic pain and early onset arthritis.

 Other injuries that can be sustained are:

  • Cracks in the cartilage in the joint itself.
  • Cracks in the growth plate of fingers in the child, which can distort growth if left, undiagnosed and poorly managed.
  • Tendons over the fingers can also rupture. Tendons connect muscle to bone and can leave a deformed and non-functional finger. Early detection can mean prevention.

 

What to do:

  • Referral to the appropriate medical professional for accurate diagnosis.
  • Initial soft tissue management based on the R.I.C.E.R. principle.
  • Being aware of your H.A.R.M. factors.
  • Splinting/taping/bracing as appropriate.

 

For more information contact us.

Carpal Tunnel syndrome

 WHAT IS IT?

The carpal tunnel is a tunnel between the wrist bones and the flexor retinaculum (a band of connective tissue). Through this tunnel passes the majority of the tendons of the hand, vessels and the median nerve.

When any of the structures in this tunnel become inflamed or the tunnel is reduced in size, the median nerve can be compressed. When a nerve is compressed the feeling of the skin and the strength muscles it supplies is reduced.

 WHAT DO I LOOK FOR?

  • Pain, sometimes a burning sensation and often tenderness in the wrist and palm regions & Pain may radiate into the forearm elbow and shoulder region.
  • Loss of sensation and/or pins and needles in the ring, middle, index fingers and thumb.
  • Loss of sensation in the hand over the night.
  • Pain with writing, lifting and other repetitive activities.

 

 WHAT CAUSES IT?

  • Muscle imbalances around the wrist joint
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Overuse of the wrist muscles
  • Pregnancy

 

 WHEN DO I SEE THE PHYSIO?

  • Physiotherapists can assess your condition, use a variety of treatment techniques, correct muscle imbalances and provide you with an appropriate exercise program. Feel free to ask any of our friendly physios about your problem.

 

DO I SEE MY DOCTOR?

  • If symptoms persist, your doctor may be able to assist with issues such as antiinflammatory medications. Your Physiotherap4u Practitioner will also advise you when you need to see a doctor.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION contact us

De Quervains Tenosynovitis

 WHAT IS IT?

  • It is the inflammation of the tendon sheath of one or both of the two of the muscles that move the thumb (extensor pollicis brevis and abductor pollicis longus)

 

 WHAT DO I LOOK FOR?

  • Pain, tenderness and/or swelling at the base of the thumb, wrist or into the forearm.
  • Pain with lifting, bringing your thumb to touch your palm or wrist, grasping objects or during a golf swing.

 

WHAT CAUSES IT?

  • Repetitive activities and overuse of the thumb/wrist muscles such as tennis, rowing, lifting, grasping objects or golf.
  • Weakness of the thumb muscles.

 

WHEN DO I SEE A PHYSIO?

  • Physiotherapists can assess your condition, use a variety of techniques, bracing, electrotherapeutic modalities and provide you with appropriate exercise program. Feel free to ask any of our friendly physios about your problem

 

DO I SEE MY DOCTOR?

  • If symptoms persist, your doctor may be able to assist with issues such as anti-inflammatory medications. Your physiotherapist will also advise you when you need to see your doctor

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION contact us

Tennis Elbow

 What is it?

Tennis elbow is a painful condition occurring on the outside of the elbow around the bony structures. The muscles that extend the wrist backwards attach onto the arm bones at this point. With overuse of their tendons, muscle-tendon junctions or muscle bellies they can become inflamed.

 What do I look for?

  • Pain on the outer side of the elbow. Usually gradual in its onset
  • Pain with repetitive actions such as washing the dishes, cleaning a surface, lifting, turning or of course tennis
  • Usually on your dominant arm
  • Pain may subside after a day or two, but increase again after the aggravating activity
  • Pain may be constant and interrupt sleep

 

What causes it?

  • Repetitive hand and elbow movements
  • Weakness and inflexibility in the muscles of the forearm.

 

When do you see someone for help?

Your Physiotherapy4u Practitioner will be able to provide an accurate diagnosis and an appropriate management plan. Often this problem can require a Sports Medicine Doctor and Physiotherapist to assist.

For more information contact us