Hand Pain

What Causes Hand Pain

Our hands are two of the best tools we use, allowing us to open jars, dress, lift and grip objects, and complete hygiene tasks efficiently. Because of this, hand pain can greatly limit a person’s ability to do many of his/her daily activities, leading to reduced life quality. Overuse injuries can cause tendinitis or carpal tunnel syndrome in the hand and make it difficult to move the wrist and fingers. Hand arthritis can occur due to several conditions and thumb joint degeneration makes gripping tasks especially difficult. Unfortunately, broken bones in the forearm, wrist, and hand can occur due to sports injuries or from falling and may require physical therapy as a non-surgical treatment or as rehabilitation following surgery. Given the complex structure of the hand, specialized assessment may be needed for certain conditions. Unsurprisingly, hand pain treatment is a major component of our Occupational and Hand Therapy services.

Symptoms of Hand Pain

Pain or stiffness in the wrist, hand, or thumb/fingers
Visible deformity of the fingers or hand
Numbness in the forearm, hand, or fingers
Hand weakness and difficulty gripping
Reduced dexterity in the hand
Swollen hands

Find a Physical Therapy Location

View All Locations

Quick Location Links

New York

Connecticut

Pennsylvania

Allentown | Dingmans Ferry | Honesdale | Milford

North Carolina

Cary | Clayton | Knightdale | Raleigh

Common Treatments of Hand Pain

Virtual Therapy

In-Office

In-Home

Occupational & Speech Therapy

Specialty Services

Dry needling
Electrical stimulation
Hot/cold
Ergonomics education
Hand therapy
Occupational therapy
Soft tissue/joint mobilization
Splinting
Stretching or strengthening exercises
Fine motor exercises

Treatment of hand pain will depend on the specific factors that contribute to the pain and disability. Joint stiffness can be very painful and limit hand and finger movement and stretching exercises may be suggested to restore motion. Joint and soft tissue mobilizations may help restore movement of stiff joints as well. Weakening of the muscles in the forearm and hand can occur if pain has been present for a while and exercises may be prescribed to improve grip strength and movement of the fingers and hand. Exercises to improve the dexterity of the fingers can improve grip strength and control during small tasks, such as buttoning a shirt or writing. Splinting the hand and wrist may be needed with severe joint arthritis or after surgery to protect the hand and wrist and reduce pain. Because some hand surgeries are very complex, treatment by a specialized hand therapist may be needed. Let Access “give you a hand” with your hand pain!

Our Services

How to Prevent Hand Pain

Some instances of hand pain are, of course, accidental, and difficult to prevent. However, some strategies exist to reduce or limit hand pain. Using ergonomic objects, such as wide handled utensils and jar openers, can help during difficult tasks and reduce pain. Ergonomic assessments can identify if the way a desk or workspace is arranged is contributing to pain. This can relieve repetitive strain injuries that cause numbness and pain in the arms. Falls can lead to broken bones in the forearm, wrist, and hand and therapy directed towards improving balance and safety at home can help prevent falls. Regular use of stretching exercises and heat can often relieve stiff joints and improve activity tolerance at home.