Median nerve is compressed at the elbow under a sheet of ligamentous tissue called the lacertus fibrosus.

SIGNS & SYMTOMPS

Affects your sense of touch and motor skills.

Its main symptoms are paraesthesia (tingling), muscle fatigue, and pain that can radiate up to the shoulder.

Patients might also experience a loss of sensitivity and dexterity. This can happen in just one or both hands over months or even years.

• Tired or heavy feeling
• Forearm and elbow pain that can radiate to the shoulder blade

• Muscle weakness
• Loss of endurance and dexterity (tendency to lose your grip)

Description/ Introduction

Hands have a very delicate and complex structure. This gives muscles and joints in the hand a great range of movement and precision. The different forces are also distributed in the best possible way. Thanks to this structure, you can do a wide range of things with your hands, such as grip objects tightly and lift heavy weights, as well as guide a fine thread through the tiny eye of a needle. Physio Asia as an established physiotherapy centre in Malaysia has been treating hand pain with an aim to help relieve the present pain as well as provide long term relief and advise to do long term prevention.

Clinical Signs and Symptoms

Hand pain may present with:

Types of Hand Pain

1. Arthritis:

Arthritis is joint inflammation and can occur in multiple areas of the hand and wrist. Arthritis of the hand can be very painful.

2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: 

a condition in which the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist, a narrow confined space. Since the median nerve provides sensory and motor functions to the thumb and 3 middle fingers, many symptoms may result.

3. Tendon Problems

Two major problems associated with tendons include tendonitis and tenosynovitis. Tendonitis, inflammation of a tendon (the tough cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones) can affect any tendon, but is most commonly seen in the wrist and fingers. When the tendons become irritated, swelling, pain, and discomfort will occur.

How can Physiotherapy Help for Hand Pain: 

Hand pain can be preventable, if managed well and that’s what as Physiotherapists we help you to do. Physiotherapists at our clinic are highly experienced in treating hand pain. Your physiotherapy will include:

• Education regarding changing wrist positions, proper neck and upper back posture, safe use of sharp utensils and tools, and incorporating stretching into your daily activities.
• Exercises to increase the strength of the muscles in your hand, fingers, and forearm—and in some cases, the trunk and postural back muscles
• Stretching exercises to improve the flexibility of the wrist, hand, and fingers.
• Use of heat/cold treatments to relieve pain.
• Use of a night splint to reduce discomfort.
• A worksite visit to assess your work area. For example, if you sit at a desk and work on a computer, it’s important for the keyboard to be in proper alignment to help avoid working in a bent wrist position.
• Increasing the size of the tool and utensil handles by adding extra material for a more comfortable grip.
• Using anti-vibration gloves or anti-vibration wraps around tool handles if this is a factor at your workplace.

Hand Pain Prevention Strategies

To prevent neck pain: Posture corrections and movements can reduce and prevent hand pain from becoming chronic.

• Use Wide-Handled Utensils
• Use Your Largest Joints and Strongest Muscles Instead of Your Fingers
• Make Typing Less of a Chore
• Consider Kinetic Tape
• Learn New Cooking Skills
• Become a Palm Reader
• Wear a Brace or Splint
• Divide and Conquer
• Dip Into Soothing Relief
• Keep Up with Daily Hand Exercises