Hand pain, what to do?

Maintaining mobility and pain relief during physical therapy are especially important in osteoarthritis of the finger joint. Destruction of the cartilage substance leads to ossification of the joint capsule, resulting in the formation of small nodules on the finger joints that limit mobility and cause pain. In addition to pain and restricted movement, swelling may also occur.

Causes of hand pain

Constant, non-ergonomic stress on the hand and finger joints quickly leads to overuse syndromes, first in the soft tissues and then in the joint area in the form of osteoarthritis. Rhizarthrosis is one of the most common degenerative diseases of the hands, along with RIP wear and tear. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and tenosynovitis are also a result of mechanical overuse. In rhizarthrosis, a hereditary predisposition plays a role and probably also a hormonal imbalance.

Women are more commonly affected than men, and although the average symptom age is in the sixth decade of life, many physical therapists begin treatment much earlier. Pain in the tenarballs after long work passes in one night. Warm water rinsing and soft tissue traction, when used alone, relieve symptoms and facilitate suppression of the emerging problem.

It is only when recovery periods and self-therapy no longer have a lasting effect and the pain changes from whimpering to a debilitating twinge, when it becomes difficult to carry a full plate with one hand or turn the house key in the lock, that the therapist must address the issue of “disability control.”

Overuse or improper stress, as well as pre-existing conditions, can lead to wrist disorders. Joint mobility is lost, painful inflammation and stress-related pain recur. In physiotherapy, manual therapy methods are used.

Physiotherapy for hand pain

In addition to posture, each therapist also analyzes the position of the hands and fingers during treatment and corrects them if necessary. Compression of the cartilage and sprain of the ligaments of the finger joints in non-ergonomic conditions are often underestimated. Axial and coaxial traction and shear forces may not initially be perceived as uncomfortable or dangerous, but the buildup of stress over the years often takes its toll.

The wrist, which is often hypermobile in women, should not be stabilized by rigid immobility, but should follow the rhythm of movement in a relaxed manner, comparable to the stroking motion described above. Otherwise, forearm fascia hypertension causes recurrent carpal blockages. The sequence of functional chains, such as the combination of dorsiflexion, ulnar abduction and pronation with palmar flexion, radial abduction and supination corresponds to the biomechanics of the wrist.