Hand injuries are extremely common among Americans. Out of the 286,810 non-fatal injuries brought in for treatment in 2020, about 123,990 were related to hand injuries, making it the second most common type of injury. Our hands are the most important body parts that help us perform simple everyday tasks. This is why the timely intervention of occupational hand therapists is essential to ensure healthy hands.
Common Types of Hand Injuries
Bone Fracture
The hand is prone to injuries at all times. Their natural position puts them at risk of being squashed or trapped. Also, an individual’s instinct is to protect their upper body by breaking a fall with their hands. This can result in a high-impact blow and tear the arm’s muscle considering the arm is protecting through only a marginal layer of tissues. This impact can lead to a bone fracture.
In a bone fracture, you may feel:
- Excessive pain
- Swelling
- Numbness
- Bruising
- Inability to achieve a range of movement
These fractures can be extremely painful, especially when you’re not used to muscle pain. But fortunately, these are short-term injuries and can be recovered with proper care, medication, and professional hand therapy.
Tendonitis
The human body consists of several tendons that join the muscles with the bone structure. These tissues are prone to wear when it acquires excessive tension, typically due to heavy weight lifting or sudden jerks typically in accidents.
Tendonitis is when these tendons get inflamed and swell, hindering the flexible rotation of your muscles. It’s very common among athletes, weight lifters, or people with desk jobs who spend hours in front of their computers in a static position.
Top certified hand therapists may suggest letting your muscles rest and regain their strength for recovery. Other kinds of treatments may involve light physiotherapy and healthy hand movements to aid the functionality of your arm muscles.
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is another very common disease among Americans. According to studies, every 1 in 4 adults may struggle with arthritis. Osteoarthritis affects the tissue that’s located between your joints. This tissue allows the smooth rotation of your limbs while disallowing the bones to rub against each other.
This disease may cause these tissues to malfunction and become inflamed, causing continuous discomfort in your muscle joints. This can cause your joints to swell and become stiff. According to research, a large fraction of arthritis is inherited through family genetics.
Carpal Tunnel Injury
The carpal tunnel is a passageway that contains the median nerve of your arm and is surrounded by other tissues. Heavy weight lifting or general sprains can cause the medial nerve to get trapped in the tunnel, causing pain to your entire arm. You may also feel a discomforting numbness and weakness in your arm.
A professional hand therapist may suggest:
- A splint support
- Anti-inflammation meds
- Muscle exercises
If you’re looking for certified hand therapists for hand injury treatment in NJ, consider us at Able Hands Rehabilitation.
We’re a team of qualified occupational therapists that offer state-of-art hand therapy solutions involving modern massage therapies and procedures. Our services include finger fractures treatment, wrist fractures treatment, custom hand splinting in NJ, and others.
Want to learn more about our offerings? Get in touch with us today!
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