Hand and Wrist Pain
Whether it is through wear and tear, arthritis or a sports injury to the hand or wrist, osteopaths can help to relieve pain and come up with a treatment plan.
The wrist is made up of 8 small bones called the carpal bones which are held together by ligaments. Because of the amount of use the hand gets and the delicate nature of the wrist, this area can be sensitive to injury or damage through long term repetitive tasks.
Often when there are problems in the hand and wrist other parts of the body such as the shoulder, neck and back try to compensate. This in turn can lead to further problems in areas away from the root cause of the problem.
The wrist is made up of 8 small bones called the carpal bones which are held together by ligaments. Because of the amount of use the hand gets and the delicate nature of the wrist, this area can be sensitive to injury or damage through long term repetitive tasks.
Often when there are problems in the hand and wrist other parts of the body such as the shoulder, neck and back try to compensate. This in turn can lead to further problems in areas away from the root cause of the problem.
Common Conditions
- Tennis Elbow
- Golfers Elbow
- Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)
- Arthritis
- Sprains and strains
- Muscular tension
- Tendinopathies
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
How Can An Osteopath Help?
- Depending on the diagnosis and your age and fitness we can use a variety of gentle massage and manipulative techniques to increase the mobility of the joints and the flexibility of the muscles in the wrist and hand.
- We will often look at muscles and joints in the upper limb, the elbow, shoulder and neck and may treat any joint restrictions and muscle tightness we find there. Often improving the movement in the joints of the upper limb will help the hand and wrist function better.
- We may offer specific balancing, strengthening or loosening exercises
- We may offer advice on strapping and brace supports, and any lifestyle factors that might be hindering healing.
- X-rays, scans or other tests may be required to make a diagnosis and we may refer you to your GP for any additional investigations and treatment such as advice on pain killers and anti-inflammatory medications