Your hands and wrists are involved in nearly everything you do—texting, cooking, working, exercising, driving. So, when something goes wrong, even small tasks can feel impossible.
At Advanced Care Physical Therapy, we see patients with hand and wrist injuries every day, and we know how disruptive they can be to your routine.
Whether caused by overuse, trauma, or an underlying condition, early diagnosis and treatment are key to recovery. Let's take a closer look at the most common hand and wrist injuries, how they happen, and how physical therapy can help you heal.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
What it is: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from your forearm into your palm, becomes compressed at the wrist.
Symptoms: Tingling, numbness, or weakness in the hand, especially the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
Causes: Repetitive motion (like typing), wrist positioning, or conditions like diabetes and arthritis.
How PT helps: Physical therapy focuses on stretching, strengthening, and posture correction to relieve pressure on the nerve and reduce symptoms.
Wrist Sprains
What it is: A sprain is an injury to the ligaments that connect bones. Wrist sprains are common with falls or sudden twists.
Symptoms: Pain, swelling, bruising, and limited range of motion.
Causes: Often caused by falling onto an outstretched hand.
How PT helps: Once cleared of fracture, therapy focuses on restoring strength, reducing swelling, and regaining mobility.
Tendonitis (De Quervain's Tenosynovitis)
What it is: Inflammation of the tendons around the base of the thumb.
Symptoms: Pain along the thumb side of the wrist, especially with gripping or twisting.
Causes: Repetitive hand or wrist movements, like texting or lifting.
How PT helps: Treatment includes activity modification, manual therapy, and targeted stretches and strengthening exercises to ease irritation.
Trigger Finger
What it is: A condition in which a finger gets stuck in a bent position and may snap straight with a pop.
Symptoms: Stiffness, clicking, or catching when moving the finger.
Causes: Repetitive gripping or inflammation around the flexor tendons.
How PT helps: Therapy may include stretching, splinting, and exercises to reduce inflammation and improve flexibility.
Fractures (Broken Bones)
What it is: Breaks in any of the bones in the wrist or hand, such as the scaphoid (a common wrist bone) or metacarpals.
Symptoms: Pain, swelling, bruising, and limited mobility in the affected area.
Causes: Direct trauma, falls, or sports injuries.
How PT helps: After immobilization or surgery, therapy restores strength, range of motion, and function—key for regaining daily use of the hand or wrist.
Arthritis
What it is: Degeneration of joints due to age (osteoarthritis) or autoimmune response (rheumatoid arthritis).
Symptoms: Joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and decreased motion.
Causes: Wear and tear, autoimmune conditions, or prior injuries.
How PT helps: While arthritis can't be reversed, therapy helps manage pain, improve function, and maintain joint mobility.
When to Seek Help
If you're experiencing pain, swelling, or a loss of function in your hand or wrist that lasts more than a few days, don't wait it out. Early evaluation and targeted treatment can significantly impact your recovery time and long-term mobility.
How Advanced Care Physical Therapy Can Help
At Advanced Care Physical Therapy, we're experienced in musculoskeletal care. Our licensed physical therapists use evidence-based techniques to develop a personalized plan that addresses the root cause of your pain. Whether you're recovering from surgery or just starting to notice symptoms, we'll work with you to restore movement and prevent future injuries.
Ready to get back to doing what you love—without hand or wrist pain? Contact us today to schedule your evaluation.
Reviewed by Fellowship Trained, Orthopedic Physical Therapist, Craig Reinstein, PT, MS, Cert. DN, Cert. VRS, CMTPT, ITPT, FAFS, Dip. Osteopractic, FAAOMPT
