Hand Therapy For Distal Radius Fractures
Hands for
SPECIALTY EXPERTISE For Shoulders, Arms, and Hands
Living
NEWSLETTER
Hand Therapy for Distal Radius Fractures
www.handsforliving.com
NEWSLETTER Living Hands for
SPECIALTY EXPERTISE For Shoulders, Arms, and Hands
Hand Therapy for Distal Radius Fractures
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Causes and Symptoms of Distal Radius Fractures Broken wrists typically happen when someone falls and holds their arm out to catch themselves. The pressure placed on their wrist is too great, and so a fracture occurs in one or more bones, typically the distal radius. This is the larger of two bones that make up the forearm. Distal radius fractures are often sustained once the weather gets nicer and people rush to be outside: hiking on the trails, biking in the park, and playing sports with friends. You will know if you’ve broken your wrist because the fracture causes immediate pain, tenderness, swelling, and bruising. Depending on the severity of the fracture, your wrist may even be hanging unnaturally. It’s very important to focus on your recovery after you’ve sustained an injury like this, even though you may be busy with traveling and outdoor activities! The goal is for your broken bone to heal
Living with pain and discomfort in your hands can stop you from doing so many things. If your hands are hurting from an injury or other chronic condition, you may find it difficult to play your favorite instrument, pick up your children or pets, or even perform your job properly. Now that COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and you’re able to go out and do the activities you love, it’s important to make sure you’re being safe and preventing injuries, however, if you do sustain one, it’s also important to have it examined! One common hand injury that Hands for Living and Hand Therapy Northwest frequently treat are distal radius fractures, also known as a broken wrist. This injury does not always require surgery; a hand therapist may be able to help! If your hands or wrists are causing you pain, or you’ve recently broken your wrist and are looking for pain relief, call us today to schedule an appointment.
properly and regain its strength so you don’t end up getting injured again. How Can Hand Therapy Help Distal Radius Fractures? If you have a broken wrist, it will affect and severely limit how much you’re able to comfortably move your hands and wrists around. Hand therapy is a non-intrusive method of treatment that can provide you with a comprehensive evaluation of your condition to help you understand why it occurred as well as how you can prevent it from recurring. It’s also a great way to manage any pain you’re feeling, even months after the injury occurred. Orthoinfo’s website explains that “Recovery [for a distal radius fracture] should be expected to take at least a year. Some pain with vigorous activities may be expected for the first year. Some residual stiffness or ache is
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to be expected for two years or possibly permanently, especially for high-energy injuries (such as motorcycle crashes), in patients older than 50 years of age, or in patients who have some osteoarthritis. However, the stiffness is usually minor and may not affect the overall function of the arm.” Consulting with a hand therapist will allow your wrist to be properly assessed and the right method of treatment to be presented to you. Hand therapy can help decrease your recovery time with the following kinds of modalities: • Protective casts/orthotics to encourage healing
Comfy Splint Resting Hand Orthosis with Progressive Positioning The Comfy Splint Resting Hand Orthosis with Progressive Positioning provides ultimate support and comfort with maximum thumb and wrist control. It incorporates an ultra-plush removable fabric cover with gentle medial or lateral thumb support and separate thumb strapping to enable a traditional C-shape formation. The patented spine is supportive but adjusts to fit each user’s unique needs with no tools required.
• Adaptive techniques • Joint protection • Manual therapy
• Compressive therapy • Electrical modalities • Ergonomic modifications
The goal of therapy will ultimately be to help your bones heal in correct alignment, reduce swelling, stiffness, and pain. It’s also vital that you can return to your normal activities after your fracture has healed, and that your strength and mobility are restored. Source: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/distal-radius- fractures-broken-wrist/
Benefits of Hand Therapy Rehabilitation After Upper Extremity Surgery
Have you had a recent upper extremity surgery and are looking for leaders in rehabilitation? Our Hands for Living and Hand Therapy Northwest occupational therapists and certified hand therapists are the team you’ve been looking for! Post-operative rehabilitation for the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder is essential to the recovery process following surgery. Our Hands for Living and Hand Therapy Northwest occupational therapists and certified hand therapists work together to help patients regain function and independence and to manage any pain or discomfort associated with their injury or surgery. Whether you have recently had a carpal tunnel release or a repair of one of your tendons in the shoulder or elbow area, our therapists can help. We provide proven treatments that can help you restore mobility, strength, and overall function in the shortest time possible. Some common tendon-related conditions we treat after upper extremity surgery include the following: • Carpal Tunnel release • De Quervain’s tenosynovitis release • Trigger finger release • Tennis elbow release • Rotator cuff repair Our Hands for Living and Hand Therapy Northwest therapists are also skilled at helping people recover from surgeries to repair broken bones and joint and ligament injuries. We are up-to-date on the most common and uncommon procedures and use techniques to ensure you get the results you deserve. Our occupational therapist will start with an individual assessment to determine the status of your surgical area. This includes identifying swelling, pain, loss of motion, or weakness. This information will help us tailor our treatments to your individual needs.
Your therapist is skilled at hands-on intervention and exercise selection for the most comprehensive and appropriate intervention to help you resolve your pain and restore your function. Our treatments typically include manual therapy, joint mobilization manipulation, therapeutic exercise, and nerve and tendon glide techniques widely used for effective results. In some situations, it is necessary to have techniques like customized splint fabrication to protect the surgical area and stabilize the joint while it heals. Post-operative rehabilitation without occupational therapists and certified hand therapists at Hands for Living and Hand Therapy Northwest focuses on treating orthopedic upper- extremity issues to optimize the functional use of the arm and hand. Request an Appointment at Hands for Living and Hand Therapy Northwest today! The primary goal of our post-operative rehabilitation for the hand, wrist, and elbow is to help you regain function, reduce pain, and manage any long-term effects of your injury or surgery. With the help of our Hands for Living and Hand Therapy Northwest occupational therapy and certified hand therapy programs, you can make a successful recovery and return to daily activities. Our therapeutic interventions consider your functional needs so you can reach your goals! If you want to begin improving your quality of life and ability to do the things you love, call today and request an appointment with one of our specialists! Sources: https://www.aota.org https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5182014/
High Five to a New Year
It is often said, “New Year, New You,” but the older you get, the wiser you get, and the more you realize that while the year may be new, you are very much left with the same “you.” There are old injuries that will continue to bother you, and pain that you are going to continue to experience — that is, unless, you are ready to finally take the steps to do something about it. If you’ve experienced hand pain in the past, and it is something that is severely bothering you, now is the time to do something about it. Make this New Year the best New Year by taking action and calling our office to schedule a consultation to finally overcome pain with targeted hand therapy options. There are a lot of things that you can hope for in the New Year, but a new pair of hands aren’t one of them. You’ve got to take care of the pair that you’ve got, and the best way to do that is by developing a strong hand-care routine. Here Are Some Tips on How to Take Care of Your Hands this New Year: • Treat cracks or calluses as they develop — don’t let them linger! The quicker you are able to address these issues by applying lotion, the quicker they will heal and the more comfortable your hands will be. • Prevent dryness by regularly applying lotion. Find a hand lotion that you prefer and make a routine in applying it every evening. This will help to prevent dryness from building.
• While you may wash your entire body with whatever soap you choose at the store, your hands kind of get the most of it in the process. If you are using a cheaper soap, this could cause irritation or even cause your hands to dry out. Consider upgrading your soap and investing in a loofa or washcloth that will take some of that pressure off your hands. • There is so much more to a manicure than simply making your nails look nice. A well done manicure will remove dead skin from your hands, give you a brief hand massage, and apply lotions and oils to the skin as needed. Investing in a manicure every month or so can really help improve the health of your hands. As the winter months move in and the New Year takes its time to thaw, make sure that you are taking precautions and preventing your hands from being overexposed to the elements by wearing the appropriate protective gear at all times. A simple pair of gloves can go a long way in making sure that you are staying warm and that your hands and fingers don’t grow too cold or dry thanks to the weather. If you haven’t developed a hand-care routine before, now is definitely the time to get started. You rely on your hands every day for all sorts of different activities. Taking care of your hands means improving comfort and utility in all of those day to day actions. For guidance and support in developing a hand-care routine, contact our office.
Finger Exercise Place index finger and thumb of one hand around middle of finger to keep finger straight. Bend and straighten only the end of finger. 20 reps, 3 sets FINGER JOINT BLOCKING
Get Back To Living!
LYNNWOOD Hands for Living (425) 368-7943
REDMOND Hand Therapy Northwest (425) 881-1921 www.handsforliving.com
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