Taking Care of Your Hands

We use our hands and wrists for a vast majority of activities during the day that you normally wouldn't think about. But if you suffer from arthritis, carpel tunnel syndrome, trigger-finger or any other of the several ailments that can include the wrist and hand, you would know just how important they are to daily tasks. The hand and wrist are one of the most intricate and most vulnerable areas to injury in the human body. By taking simple preventative measures you might be able to keep your hand and wrist in good shape.

The anatomy of the hand and wrist is quite complex. There are 27 bones that comprise the wrist and hand. In addition, the hand contains an intricate network of muscles, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels, all packed into a very tight space. It is easy to see how things can go wrong in this area.

There are mainly two types of injuries physical therapists treat in the hand and wrist. These are traumatic injuries, such as fractures or lacerations which require immediate care, and repetitive motion injuries. Repetitive motion injuries happen over time due to working the hand and wrist in a repeating motion such as computer work, meat cutters or assembly line work

Most repetitive motion exercises can be avoided through rest breaks, exercise, proper posture, proper technique, use of protective equipment, and properly designed work stations. Take rest breaks every hour for a few minutes away from the repetitive activity that you are performing. Exercise regularly to build strength, endurance and flexibility. Simple exercises such as: waving the hand, opening and closing of the hand, squeezing a soft-ball, and stretching the wrist all help. Practice proper posture while at work and play. This is essential to healthy, harmonious functioning of the wrist and hand. Have your workstation and tools redesigned by a qualified physical therapist.

The main way to minimize your risk for traumatic injuries is to play it safe! Wear protective gear when roller-blading and biking. Keep air in your tires. Wear reflective gear as needed and try to limit your activity to daylight hours. Don't wear old worn out shoes when walking that may cause you to fall. Check them regularly and get new ones often. Drink plenty of fluids and avoid direct sunlight if possible.

A little bit of planning can mean the difference between many hours in a physical therapist's office and many hours zipping around town at work or at play.

by Carol Glasscock, MS,PT