Wrist And Hand Injuries

Injuries that we treat here at Performance Medicine;

Carpal tunnel syndrome
Extensor hood injury
Skier’s thumb

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The carpal tunnel is the passageway on the palmar side of the wrist and is formed by the wrist bones and connective tissue. The tendons that move the fingers and wrist, as well as blood vessels and the median nerve pass through this tunnel. With all of these structures passing through a very small space, the carpal tunnel is crowded!. If swelling in the tunnel occurs, the structures (including blood vessels and nerves) become compressed and this can lead to lead to wrist and hand weakness and pain, and, pins and needles or numbness in the first, third and fourth fingers. It is not uncommon for pregnant women to experience carpal tunnel syndrome due to the swelling that can occur in their hands as a result of increased fluid. Physiotherapy treatment includes massage, swelling management, joint techniques, strengthening and taping or bracing.

Finger Extensor Hood Injuries

There are many types of injuries that are described when the extensor tendon is injured and two of these are Mallet finger and Boutnnière Deformity.
Mallet finger is where the end joint of the finger droops and is more common in ball sports where something has struck the finger and forced the end into flexion.

Boutnnière Deformity is where the middle joint of the finger is bent.

Management of finger injuries may require an xray to review to ensure there is no bone damage and surgical or splints management will be decided. If your fingers has surgery or is splinted., physiotherapy plays a role in the maintenance of your wrist and elbow and the rehabilitation of your finger range of motion and dexterity.

Skier’s Thumb

Skier’s thumb is an injury to the big thumb joint of your hand (metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint It is called a “skier’s thumb” as it often occurs in skiing if you fall on an out stretched hand holding your stock. The over abduction and extension of your joint can disrupt the ligaments that support the thumb. This can occur in other sports if you fall onto an outstretched hand or thumb.

If you sustain this injury you will experience swelling and brusing around the thumb, pain and weakness of the thumb. Treatment is important to stabilise the thumb, sometimes with a splint or taping, and then rehabilitate it to build strength and increase your thumb movement dexterity.

Our thumbs are involved in almost all activities that we do with our hands, so having your thumb rehabilitated is just as important as rehabilitating an ankle or knee.