How Physical Therapy Helps Relieve Arthritic Hand Pain
Do you struggle with stiff, aching fingers? Is it difficult for you to pick up small objects, such as a pen or a toothbrush? Arthritis of the hands is relatively common, but that doesn’t make it any easier to live with. Fortunately, physical therapy at Atlanta Human Performance Center can help you find relief.
Arthritis is an umbrella term for over 100 conditions, all of which cause inflammation, pain, and restricted joint mobility. The two most common types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, can both affect the hands.
While pain is never fun, hand pain can feel particularly debilitating. We use our hands constantly throughout the day. Think about the day-to-day hand-related activities you take for granted: picking up a fork, jotting down a note to yourself, scrolling through your phone. With hand arthritis, these tasks and more start to feel impossible.
Fortunately, physical therapy does offer several solutions for relieving arthritis-related hand pain. We’ll work with you to develop a customized treatment program that alleviates your pain, improves your mobility, and helps you do those small daily tasks throughout the day.
Call Atlanta Human Performance Center today to schedule your initial consultation!
OA vs RA: Symptoms and Causes
The most common type of arthritis in the United States is osteoarthritis (OA), which occurs when a joint’s cartilage and bone tissue degenerate due to aging, injury, or other factors. While we frequently hear about hip and knee osteoarthritis, hand OA is also common, especially as people get older.
Osteoarthritis symptoms typically onset gradually and include the following:
- Hand pain that worsens with use. At first, the pain will come and go; eventually, it will become constant and more intense.
- Stiffness and restricted range of motion that, again, will worsen over time
- Grinding, clicking, or cracking noises in the hand joints
- Swelling and tenderness
- Weakened grip
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the second most common form of arthritis in the United States. It’s an autoimmune disorder that causes your body’s immune system to attack your joints and is most likely to affect your hands, wrists, or knees.
Symptoms will follow a pattern in which they get worse (flares) or better (remission). Some symptoms are similar to OA, such as the following:
- Pain, usually in more than one joint
- Stiffness, tenderness, and swelling, usually in more than one joint
- Weakened grip
- Symptoms occur on both sides of the body (i.e., both hands)
However, RA often has additional symptoms unrelated to your joints, such as the following:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
How Physical Therapy Can Help You Find Hand Pain Relief
Neither osteoarthritis nor rheumatoid arthritis have a cure. In both cases, you’ll need to focus on managing your symptoms: reducing pain, improving mobility, and restoring joint function. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, it’s also important to work with a physician to put the disease into remission, as, if left untreated, it can have effects throughout your body.
Our team of Doctors of Physical Therapy will work with you to create a customized treatment plan focused on providing hand pain relief. While we tailor every program to the patient, here’s what you can expect:
- Manual therapy refers to a set of hands-on, drug-free techniques for managing pain and inflammation while working to improve mobility. We might mobilize the small joints in your hand to improve the range of motion or gently manipulate soft tissue to reduce pain.
- Hand exercises are crucial in managing arthritis. While manual therapy helps with initial pain management, regularly moving the joint can impact your pain levels long-term. We’ll show you tailored exercises you can do in our clinic and at home.
- Braces and splints work to mobilize your hand and/or wrist, relieving pressure on your joints. They provide stability to your hands and help minimize further joint damage.
- Finally, we’ll help you develop lifestyle strategies and modifications that can help reduce your symptoms by adjusting the specific movements that worsen your pain or restriction.
Wave Goodbye to Arthritic Hand Pain Today!
At Atlanta Human Performance Center, we know how difficult it can be to live with hand arthritis. Fortunately, our team of dedicated Doctors of Physical Therapy can provide you with the tools you need to successfully manage your condition.
Ready to get started? Call our clinic to set up your first appointment!
Your Progress Matters To Us!
Return to Atlanta Human Performance Center and Let’s Continue Your Journey to Wellness Together. Schedule Your Appointment Now!
Discover Healthy Plate Pleasures
Paleo Gluten Free Stuffing
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1 small butternut squash, diced
- 2 cups Brussels sprouts, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium-sized yellow onion, diced
- 3 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1 apple, sliced and diced into small pieces
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh sage
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary (or 2 tsp dried)
- Salt & pepper to taste
Turkey Sausage:
- 1 lb Ground chicken or turkey
- 1 Tbsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450°F. Mix together ingredients for turkey sausage in a large bowl. Add butternut squash and brussels sprouts to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Add turkey sausage and break up with a slotted spoon, cooking about 5-7 minutes until just browned. Remove turkey from skillet and add in onions, celery, red pepper and apple, then drizzle with a tiny bit of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Saute for about 7-8 minutes until veggies soften. Add turkey sausage back to skillet with other veggies. Add cooked squash and Brussels sprouts. Add that to the skillet along with rosemary and sage and saute another 2-3 minutes, stirring everything very well.
Exercise of the Month
Towel Lateral Pinch
Hold a small folded towel in between your thumb and the side of your index finger with your thumb on top. Squeeze the towel by pressing your thumb downward. 3 sets, 10 reps, 2 seconds hold.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“The most amazing committed physical therapists are at Atlanta Human Performance Center. Have been getting therapy for a sciatica issue and their determination to get me out of pain is personal to each therapist.”
– Shirley L.
Suffering from Hand Arthritis? Mobility is Key
No one likes experiencing pain. Unfortunately, persistent pain is often a reality for people living with hand arthritis–and it causes many to avoid using their hands at all. And avoiding movement only leads to more pain in the long term.
For that reason, it’s essential that people with hand arthritis spend time working on the mobility of the hands, fingers, and wrists, as that can ultimately help reduce your pain. The experts at Atlanta Human Performance Center can show you simple strategies to improve your mobility, all of which you can do at home.
Three Approaches for Improving Hand Mobility
- Manual Therapy: We’ll show you how to perform certain manual techniques that can help minimize pain from arthritis, such as gently mobilizing each joint in your hand or self-massaging your hand’s soft tissue.
- Hand Exercises: Specialized hand exercises will help improve your hand’s strength, range of motion, and overall function. Here are a few example exercises so you know what to expect:
- Stretch your hand out, then squeeze it into a first
- Use your fingers to make an “O” shape
- Bend your fingers toward your palm one at a time
- Equipment-Based Exercises: Several pieces of equipment can help take your arthritis relief to the next level! Dedicated hand grip strengtheners, stress balls, and even therapy putty (think Silly Putty–let your inner child free!) can all help you improve your hand mobility in fun, challenging ways.
Ready to get started with a home-based mobility program of your own? Call us to schedule an appointment today!
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3 Ways to Practice Gratitude
Did you know that being grateful is actually good for your health? It’s true!
We all love Thanksgiving for the excellent food, football, and time spent with family, but truthfully, this holiday means much more. Practicing gratitude can lead to greater happiness all year long.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
If you want to implement more gratitude in your own life, take a look at these 3 tips.
1. Write thank you letters
Remember writing thank you letters? How long has it been since you wrote one? You don’t need to have a wedding, graduation, or other big life event to thank the people in your life. Try writing thank you letters to your friends and family for the little things– you’ll be surprised at how good it feels!
2. Write down what you are grateful for every day
This might sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! Take a few minutes each morning or evening to write down at least 3 things that you are grateful for in your life. This repeated action helps us shift into a more positive mindset and can help fight symptoms of depression and anxiety.
3. Use visual reminders
It can be hard to remember to practice gratitude. With your hectic schedule, sometimes it can feel impossible to sit down, take a moment to breathe, and reflect on your blessings. Visual cues can be a great tool for reminding us to take a beat.
Something as simple as sticky notes, a poster, or even your home screen on your phone or laptop can help us remember to slow down and shift to a positive mindset.
