Wrist & Hand

Introduction to

Wrist & Hand

There are 27 bones in the hand, and 8 bones in the wrist, meaning they are both quite complex areas of the body with a magnitude of joints. Although injuries to these joints are not common, they can often be problematic and will require specialist Physiotherapy assessment and rehabilitation.

What causes Wrist and Hand pain?

Wrist and hand pain can be caused by a number of different structures. There are a variety of possible reasons for a person to experience pain in this region. Pain can be caused by inflammation in the joints caused by arthritis, or from a muscle or tendon injury to the surrounding tissues. Neural impingement (carpal tunnel syndrome) can also occur through the wrist and this is often caused by sedentary working positions. The onset of the pain can be a good indicator of what structures might be at fault and a thorough assessment is usually required to examine this joint.

What can be done to help?

Medication can be a useful first step in helping to relieve pain in the wrist and hand. This can be discussed with your GP or Pharmacist. Another early intervention which is often encouraged is Physiotherapy. A specialist assessment can give a good indication of what might help a wrist and hand problem recover. Often techniques used by Physiotherapists, such as manual therapies and exercise prescription, can assist in the rehabilitation process. Sometimes further assessment is required in order to establish the exact cause of the problem. This can include scans (ultrasound, MRI, X-ray) or seeing a wrist and hand specialist consultant.

What exercises can I try?

Due to the complexity of the wrist and hand, and the variety of possible problems, it is very difficult to prescribe exercises that will help recovery from a problem in this area of the body. We recommend seeing one of our Physiotherapist's who will be able to show you the correct exercises for your individual needs and also advise on any other treatment you might need. Often, a few simple exercises done correctly can go a long way to alleviate wrist and hand problems.

Common Wrist and Hand conditions that we treat:

Repetitive strain injury
Trigger finger
Fractured wrist
Wrist sprain (ligament injury)
Finger pulley injury
Carpal tunnel syndrome

Our Physiotherapy team can assess for and treat all of the above, often without the need for surgical intervention. We have a climbing specialist Physiotherapist (James Walker) with an interest in treating hand and wrist injuries.