Top Five Common Hand & Wrist Injuries | IMPACT Physical Therapy

Top Five Common Hand & Wrist Injuries

Orthopedist applying bandage onto patients hand in clinic

You use your hands for basically everything from washing your hands to typing on your computer to even driving. So, it’s important that you understand how to prevent injuries to your hands or wrists as this could put a damper on your work and personal life. Check out five of the most common hand and wrist injuries with IMPACT Physical Therapy as well as how you can avoid them. Then, visit us near South Loop for all of your physical therapy needs. 

  1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

One of the most common hand injuries that most Lakeview residents are aware of is carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome results from the nerves that run down your arms to your hands and fingers being overworked. The median nerve is what runs down your arms and controls the movement of your fingers, and performing the same movement over and over again can cause the inside of your wrists to swell and the median nerve to compress. 

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include: 

  • Pain when trying to grasp objects
  • Tingling feeling in your fingers
  • Numbness in your fingers

Get your hands feeling like normal when you visit IMPACT Physical Therapy. 

  1. Trigger Finger

Your finger muscles are connected to bone by tendons, which are covered by a layer of material called synovium. Synovium releases fluid to keep the tendons lubricated, but if a tendon is injured, then the synovium won’t provide enough fluid to the tendons. The tendon will become inflamed, which results in you not being able to extend your finger. 

Symptoms of trigger finger include: 

  • Pain at the base of the finger
  • Clicking sensation when trying to move fingers

Prevent trigger finger and other common wrist injuries at IMPACT Physical Therapy. 

  1. Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Along with the median nerve, there’s another nerve that runs down your arms called the ulnar nerve. It’s located more towards your elbow, so if you lean on your elbows often or work with tools that vibrate, then this nerve can become compressed. Some symptoms of this common hand injury are: 

  • Tingling sensation in the fingers
  • Numbness in the hands

Rely on the experts at IMPACT Physical Therapy near Norridge for reliable hand injury treatment.  

  1. Fractures

Usually, when you hear the term “fractures”, it’s in reference to a broken bone. But, smaller fractures can refer to stressed or injured tendons, which would be known as “stress fractures”. These kinds of fractures can come from repetitive movements and actions. Symptoms of fractures can include: 

  • Pain in the hands or fingers
  • Swelling
  • Inflammation

If you suspect that you may have a fracture, even if you don’t feel a great deal of pain, visit IMPACT Physical Therapy to get diagnosed. 

  1. Tendonitis

As mentioned, your fingers all have tendons binding them together, and so do your hands and wrists. Overusing them can cause them to become inflamed, which results in tendonitis. Symptoms of tendonitis can include the following: 

  • Pain
  • Weakness in the hands
  • Skin feels warm to touch

For all of your hand injury treatment needs, visit IMPACT Physical Therapy in Chicago. Set up an appointment today to see how you can get your hands feeling better and working normally. 

Get Hand Injury Treatment at IMPACT Physical Therapy

Contact us to get the treatment you need to get back to your daily routine.