Nebraska Orthopaedic Newsletter
ARE YOU IN NEED OF AN UPPER EXTREMITY ORTHOTIC?
Upper extremities include your hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, arms, and shoulders. Pain in your upper extremity can make it difficult to perform daily activities. Whether it’s brushing your hair, driving a car, or typing at a computer, you use your upper extremities hundreds of times throughout the day! If you are experiencing pain due to an injury or underlying condition, custom orthotics can help. How can I tell if I’m in need of a custom orthotic for my upper extremities? It can sometimes be difficult to determine if an orthotic device is needed. If normal daily activities that you could once do with ease begin to cause you discomfort, that is an indicator that something is wrong. There are some tests you can do on your own at home to figure out if your upper extremities are causing you trouble. STARTING POSITION - Sitting at your workstation, your home computer or the dinner table in your normal posture: 1. Try to raise both arms up in front of you and continue overhead
without moving your spine. If you can’t get full shoulder motion, or if you experience pain, this is an indication that there may be a postural issue that needs to be corrected. 2. Try to roll your shoulders down and back, again without moving your spine. If you feel this is difficult to do, your muscles are probably keeping your shoulders elevated. 3. Raise your arms up and out to the side like a “jumping jack” motion, again without moving your spine. If you experience pain, this is another indication of a postural issue that is affecting your upper extremities. 4. Try to clasp your hands behind your back. Now raise your arms up behind you. If you are unable to raise them very far, you have limited shoulder, spine, or chest mobility. NOW, REPEAT THE TESTS while sitting up straight and allow the spine to move. Compare the difference in your shoulder motions or pain.
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