Have you noticed that it’s more difficult to grip and make a fist? Do you have stiff, achy fingers and hands? You may be experiencing the effects of arthritis.
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SPECIALTY EXPERTISE For Shoulders, Arms, and Hands
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Relieving Arthritic Pains in Your Hands with Hand Therapy
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Living Hands for SPECIALTY EXPERTISE For Shoulders, Arms, and Hands
Relieving Arthritic Pains in Your Hands with Hand Therapy
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Have you noticed that it’s more difficult to grip and make a fist? Do you have stiff, achy fingers and hands? You may be experiencing the effects of arthritis. At Hands for Living and Hand Therapy Northwest, our therapists are experts at treating the different types of arthritis that cause your hands to hurt. We can help teach you strategies to manage your arthritis to use your hands with less pain! You use your hands and fingers hundreds of times throughout the day for both basic and complex tasks. Unfortunately, arthritis limits your ability to move freely and makes it difficult to do daily activities. If you are living with arthritis, you’re not alone. There are over 100 different types of arthritis that people are diagnosed with, and millions deal with limitations from the different types. Arthritis pain is directly correlated to the restriction of mobility in your joints, which in turn influences the health of your muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Fortunately, our hand therapists are experts in treating arthritis in your hands. We will help restore the movement in your joints and strength in your muscles to alleviate arthritic inflammation and pain. Contact Hands for Living and Hand Therapy Northwest today, and let us help you relieve your pain so you can use your hands to do the things you love! What Types of Arthritis Are Found in the Hands? Arthritis refers to any chronic condition that affects the joints, causing pain and inflammation. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis found in the hands. This type is the result of a gradual breakdown of cartilage in the joints. This breakdown can occur at any age but is most common after an injury or repetitive use of the affected joint(s). Cartilage can no longer protect the joints when worn down,
resulting in bone-on-bone friction and painful inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the second most commonly experienced form of arthritis and develops as an autoimmune response. When someone has rheumatoid arthritis, their immune system sees the joints as a threat. Because of this perceived threat, the immune system attacks the joints, resulting in pain and inflammation. Most experts believe that your hormones, genes, smoking, and environment could all contribute to the development of RA. Hand Therapy for Arthritis Relief People have found enormous success in arthritis relief through specialized hand therapy known as hand therapy. Hand therapy focuses on the upper extremity as a whole, including the wrist/hand, forearm, elbow, and shoulder. Hand therapists work toward returning the affected area to its highest level of function.
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Relieving Arthritic Pains in Your Hands
Your therapist will also work with you on strategies and modifications that help you function better. Teaching you about your pain and how to manage it can help you get over the hump and regain your independence in day-to-day tasks and
A therapist typically uses manual techniques to manipulate the affected arthritic area to release tension, swelling, and pain. Through massage and hands-on treatments, patients can find significant improvement — sometimes after just one session! In some cases, additional techniques, such as heat therapies, ultrasound, or paraffin wax therapy may also be used as part of your treatment plan to manage your pain and keep symptoms at bay. However, one of the most significant roles of a therapist is prescribing targeted mobility and strengthening exercises to help you restore the use of your hands. These will be dependent upon the type and severity of your arthritis. Sometimes splints are needed to help you, especially at night.
pathology and provide appropriate treatment to optimize your outcomes. Your treatments will aim to relieve pain, promote healing, and relearn or modify
activities to make daily life easier. Call Today to Make an Appointment
improve the quality of your life. What to Expect at Your Hand Therapy Visit
A large part of therapy for your hand is helping you improve your range of motion, strength, and overall function so you can safely and comfortably perform your daily activities once again. At Hands for Living and Hand Therapy Northwest, our team will work closely with you to determine which course of treatment will be best for your specific needs. Contact us today to schedule a consultation to learn more about how hand therapy can relieve your upper extremity arthritis.
Your therapist will provide you with the necessary stretches and exercises to keep up with the progress you made during your sessions. It is crucial to make sure you complete these stretches and exercises independently so your arthritis doesn’t worsen. By combining findings from your exam, our therapists can determine the underlying
Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0894113017302818; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32365314/; https://academic.oup.com/ rheumatology/article/45/5/577/1788575
Kari Ketner, Certified Hand Therapist As a Certified Hand Therapist, Kari is an occupational therapist specializing in hand and upper extremity conditions. Her professional interests include fractures, cumulative trauma injuries, post-surgical management, and fabrication of custom splints. Although she focuses on the upper extremity, her clinical practice has evolved to be more holistic. Through education, she has come to realize the importance of assessing posture and creating balance within the system. She assesses each client and creates an individualized treatment plan drawing from a variety of skills. Her skills include manual therapy, Bowenwork, L.I.F.T., ergonomics, postural re-education, stretching/ROM exercises, Astym, and customized home exercise programs. Kari believes that patient education regarding their condition and how to manage their health is essential to recovery.
“I love working with my patients and am dedicated to providing them compassionate care that helps them return to full activity in their daily lives.“ — Kari
Comfort Cool Thumb CMC Restriction Splint
Success Story
“Ryan’s pretty modest, but
Comfortable splint provides direct support for the thumb CMC joint while allowing full finger function. The same CMC thumb wraparound orthosis as right, with the addition of a firm, moldable insert inside the thumb strap. Provides gentle compression that helps
he knows what he’s doing!”
“I had a very minor volar plate fracture in my left pinky. It was definitely a relatively easy case, but Ryan was super-attentive to my needs and very expertly answered all my questions. He was always careful to make sure nothing he did to me was painful, and we went through a number of different techniques to help make sure the pinky returned to its natural straightness and strength, including exercises with clay, heat treatments, and massaging. Ryan’s pretty modest, but he knows what he’s doing! My pinky is on its way to full recovery about 8 weeks past the injury; it’s almost completely straight and my grip strength is mostly restored. I’m already playing volleyball again! Thanks, HTNW.” — Emma B.
relieve thumb discomfort associated with CMC joint arthritis and/or instability, tendinitis or repetitive motion.
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. TOWEL LATERAL PINCH Hand Exercise Relieve Hand Pain, Strengthen Hand
Get Back To Living!
LYNNWOOD Hands for Living (425) 368-7943
REDMOND Hand Therapy Northwest (425) 881-1921 www.handsforliving.com
If you are not sure about how to do this exercise, please consult with your hand therapist before starting.
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