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NEWSLETTER Your Resource for Health, Wellness & Caring For Your Body
JUNE 2026
How Physiotherapy Helps Relieve Arthritic Hand Pain
THEPHYSIOTHERAPYCENTER.COM
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NEWSLETTER Your Resource for Health, Wellness & Caring For Your Body
How Physiotherapy Helps Relieve Arthritic Hand Pain Do you struggle with stiff, aching fingers? Has it become harder to pick up shells at the beach or cast a fishing line? Arthritis of the hands is relatively common, but that doesn’t make it any easier to live with. Fortunately, the team at The Physiotherapy Center Ltd. is here to 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, texting a friend. With hand arthritis, these tasks and more start to feel impossible. Fortunately, our clinic offers several solutions to relieve 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. OA vs RA: Symptoms and Causes The most common type of arthritis worldwide 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 another prevalent form of arthritis. 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: • 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
Sources: https://acrjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/art.41142 https://www.arthritis.org/diseases/more-about/osteoarthritis-of-the-hands https://www.cdc.gov/arthritis/basics/rheumatoid-arthritis.html https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3241372/
THEPHYSIOTHERAPYCENTER.COM
CALL US AT 345.943.8700
NEWSLETTER Your Resource for Health, Wellness & Caring For Your Body
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 simple exercises you can do in our clinic and at home. • Braces and splints work to immobilize 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 The Physiotherapy Center Ltd., we know how hand arthritis can keep you from enjoying all the islands have to offer. Fortunately, our team of dedicated physiotherapists 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!
Finding Hand Pain Relief with Our Physiotherapy Team Neither osteoarthritis nor rheumatoid arthritis has 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. All that said, you don’t have to manage these conditions on your own! At The Physiotherapy Center Ltd., our team will work closely with you to create a customized treatment plan focused on managing your pain and helping you get back to your favorite island activities, whether that’s kayaking in the ocean or enjoying a relaxing afternoon fishing off the pier. Treatment Techniques We Might Suggest • 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
THEPHYSIOTHERAPYCENTER.COM
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NEWSLETTER Your Resource for Health, Wellness & Caring For Your Body
Build Strength and Dexterity: Targeted exercises can improve hand function and reduce discomfort: • To build endurance in your grip muscles, squeeze a soft ball or therapy putty for 10–15 repetitions. • Gently extend your fingers back with your other hand to stretch the palm and forearm, holding for 15-20 seconds • Slow wrist circles or bends can reduce stiffness and improve joint movement. Manage Discomfort Early: Ignoring early symptoms can lead to tendon or nerve irritation. Avoid worsening discomfort by:
Don’t Let Hand Pain Cut Your Day Short on the Water Whether you’re fishing offshore or paddling through mangroves, long days can take a toll on your hands. Numbness, tingling, stiffness, and grip fatigue all can get bad enough that you have to cut your time short. Fortunately, there are ways to keep your hands comfortable on the water. Here are some tips from The Physiotherapy Center Ltd. team. A Few Simple Strategies for Stronger, Happier Hands Protect Your Grip and Reduce Strain: Repetitive gripping can overload small hand muscles and tendons in your hand. Protect them by: • Using a relaxed grip and avoiding squeezing too tightly at all times. • Choosing ergonomically designed padded or fishing rods with wider, cushioned grips • Wearing padded gloves, which reduce vibration and protect sensitive areas, especially during longer outings.
• Taking short breaks every 20–30 minutes • Alternating activities to avoid overuse • Icing the area if pain develops
Stay Comfortable. Stay Active. We’re Here to Help. Stay active, stay comfortable, and make the most of Cayman’s waters! If pain, tingling, or weakness persists, the team at The Physiotherapy Center Ltd. can assess your symptoms and create a personalized plan to restore comfort and strength. Contact us today to learn more.
THEPHYSIOTHERAPYCENTER.COM
CALL US AT 345.943.8700
Recipe Of The Month: Oven Pork Chops
Ingredients: • 2 lb. pork chops • 4 cloves garlic • 1 tsp. salt • 1 cup brown sugar • 1 tsp. prepared mustard • 2 cups cider
“Telehealth involves using telecommunications and virtual technology to deliver healthcare outside of traditional healthcare facilities. Telehealth, which requires access only to telecommunications, is the most basic element of “eHealth,” which uses a broader range of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Telehealth examples include virtual home health care, where patients such as the chronically ill or the elderly may receive guidance in specific procedures while remaining at home. Telehealth has also made it easier for healthcare workers in remote field settings to obtain advice from professionals elsewhere in diagnosis, care, and referral of patients. Training can sometimes also be delivered via telehealth schemes or related technologies such as eHealth, which uses small computers and the internet. Well-designed telehealth schemes can improve healthcare access and outcomes, particularly for chronic disease treatment and vulnerable groups. Not only do they reduce demands on crowded facilities, but they also create cost savings and make the health sector more We Offer Telehealth Directions: 1. Season pork chops with garlic and salt. 2. Mix sugar and mustard and spread mixture on both sides of chops. 3. Place in an ovenproof dish (ovenproof dish should not be greased) and pour cider over chops. 4.Bake at 350° F until done.
resilient. Since remote communication and treatment of patients reduce the number of health service visits, transport-related emissions and operational requirements emissions are reduced. In addition, fewer space demands can result in smaller health facilities, with concurrent reductions in construction materials, energy and water consumption, waste, and overall environmental impact.”
From: Health and sustainable development – https://www.who.int/sustainable-development/ health-sector/strategies/telehealth/en/
To ensure you have a great appointment, please check the following: • Camera Position & Location: Your camera should be set up to allow you to move around and remain visible to your physiotherapist. • Device Power Source: It is best to have the device plugged in. • Audio: Consider using earbuds or Bluetooth headsets for more precise sound. • Internet Connection: It should be 15Mbps or higher. You may check your internet connection at fast.com. • Environment: A quiet private space free of distraction is recommended so that you will be more focused.
THEPHYSIOTHERAPYCENTER.COM
CALL US AT 345.943.8700
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