Hand Pain

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Hand Pain

Expert Solutions for Hand Pain

At Mid West Physiotherapy, we understand how frustrating and limiting hand pain can be. Whether it’s preventing you from doing your job, enjoying hobbies, or simply carrying out everyday activities, hand pain can significantly impact your quality of life. Whether caused by overuse, an injury or conditions like arthritis, our expert physiotherapists are here to help you restore function, reduce pain, and get back to doing what you love.

We offer tailored treatment plans designed to address your unique situation, helping you recover faster and more effectively. Our goal isn’t just to relieve pain — we’re committed to providing the support and tools needed to help prevent further issues and maintain long-term recovery.

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Typical Hand Pain Conditions

Hand issues can arise from a variety of causes, including injury, overuse, or degenerative conditions. Some of the most common hand problems we treat here at the clinic include:
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Repetitive strain injuries (RSI)
  • Fractures or dislocations
  • Arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis)
  • Tendonitis
  • Trigger ringer (stenosing tenosynovitis)
  • Dupuytren’s contracture
  • De Quervain's tenosynovitis

If you’re experiencing elbow pain, it may be related to one of the common conditions listed above. Typical symptoms of elbow problems include:

  • Pain: Ranging from a dull ache to sharp, intense pain during activity or at rest, often in the wrist, fingers, or palm.
  • Swelling: The hand or fingers may appear visibly swollen, particularly after activity or injury.
  • Stiffness: Difficulty moving the fingers or wrist, especially after prolonged rest or inactivity.
  • Weakness: A feeling of instability or weakness in the hand, especially when gripping or lifting objects.
  • Tenderness: Sensitivity around the hand or wrist, which may increase when pressure is applied or during certain movements.
  • Numbness or Tingling: A sensation of pins and needles or numbness, which can indicate nerve involvement (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome).
  • Limited range of motion: Difficulty with movements like bending the fingers or grasping objects.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to get a professional assessment to determine the cause and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

The most important part of our assessment is understanding how your hand pain is affecting your daily life. We focus on how the pain impacts your movement, what activities aggravate or relieve the pain, and the factors that contribute to your discomfort. By gathering this information, we can create a personalised treatment plan aimed at improving function, relieving pain, and promoting faster recovery.

Typically, you will be given a tailored exercise program to follow at home. These exercises will help improve strength, flexibility, and range of motion, which will speed up your recovery. Your physiotherapist will support you throughout the process, tracking your progress, making necessary adjustments, and celebrating your milestones along the way. Our goal is not only to relieve pain but to empower you with the tools and knowledge needed to maintain your recovery and prevent future hand injuries.

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FAQs - Physiotherapy for Hand Pain

Hand pain can be caused by various factors, including overuse, repetitive movements, injury, arthritis, or tendonitis. Conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, or trigger finger are also common causes. A physiotherapy assessment can help determine the exact cause of your pain and guide appropriate treatment.
If your hand pain is persistent, affects your ability to perform daily tasks or doesn’t improve with rest, physiotherapy can help. It’s also beneficial if you experience weakness, swelling, or difficulty with movements like gripping or lifting. A physiotherapist can assess your condition and recommend the best treatment approach.

Physiotherapy offers many benefits, including:

  • Pain relief: Reduce discomfort and inflammation through targeted treatments and exercises, minimising reliance on pain medication.
  • Improved mobility: Restore flexibility and range of motion, making it easier to perform everyday tasks and activities.
  • Strengthening: Build strength in the muscles around the hand and fingers to provide better support and prevent future strain.
  • Non-surgical treatment: Many hand conditions can be treated effectively without the need for surgery, making physiotherapy a safe and effective solution for hand pain.
All of our physiotherapists at Mid West Physiotherapy are highly trained and experienced in hand pain and injuries. Any one of our team would be delighted to create a recovery plan with you to resolve your hand issue and get you back doing what you love best.
During your first visit to us, your physiotherapist will conduct a thorough assessment to better understand your condition, lifestyle and recovery goals. This will include:
  • A discussion of your medical history, symptoms, lifestyle and recovery goals.
  • A physical examination to evaluate your posture, flexibility, strength, and movement.
  • Identifying the underlying causes of your pain.
  • Development of a customised treatment plan.

Your treatment plan will focus on both relieving your pain and improving your long-term mobility. We will explain every step of the process so you can feel confident in your care.

Our treatment techniques include:
  • Manual therapy: Hands-on techniques to relieve tension, improve joint mobility and reduce pain.
  • Therapeutic exercises: Customised rehabilitation programmes to strengthen weak muscles, improve flexibility, and restore optimal movement.
  • Biomechanical assessment: We evaluate your movement patterns to identify contributing factors to hand pain.
  • Heat therapy: To reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
  • Ultrasound therapy: To relieve certain soft tissue injuries and inflammation.
  • Shockwave therapy: To relieve certain soft tissue injuries, chronic conditions and musculoskeletal issues
  • Electrical stimulation: To help reduce pain and stimulate muscle function.
  • Taping, bracing and supports: Therapeutic taping techniques, supports or braces can help stabilise the hand and relieve pressure on damaged tissues during the healing process.
  • Dry needling: A technique used to target trigger points in muscles and release tension.
  • Education: We educate you on body mechanics, posture and movement techniques to prevent further injury and ensure proper healing.

Your physiotherapist will incorporate the most appropriate treatment techniques and modalities into your recovery programme. 

In most cases you will not need an x-ray or MRI, unless you have been advised to do so by a doctor or physiotherapist.
The frequency of visits will depend on your pain/injury, treatment goals, and progress. In the early stages of recovery, you may need to visit weekly. As you improve, the frequency will decrease, and you may transition to home exercises. Your physiotherapist will continuously assess your progress and adjust your treatment schedule accordingly.
The recovery time for hand pain depends on the type and severity of the condition. For mild issues, you can expect improvement within a few weeks with the help of your physiotherapy and rehabilitation program. However, more severe conditions, like tendon injuries or arthritis, may take several months to heal fully. Your physiotherapist will work with you to set realistic recovery goals and adjust your treatment plan as you progress.
During your hand rehabilitation, your physiotherapist will guide you on managing activity levels to avoid aggravating your condition. This may include modifying tasks, taking frequent breaks, using splints or supports, and gradually increasing movement and strength exercises as you progress. The goal is to balance rest and activity to promote healing while maintaining function.
Your physiotherapist will provide guidance on the best ways to prevent future hand pain or injury. Recommendations may include:
  • Strengthening the muscles of the hand and forearm to improve grip and dexterity.
  • Improving flexibility to maintain full range of motion.
  • Correcting posture and movement patterns (working with a physiotherapist to address any biomechanical issues).
  • Avoiding repetitive motions that strain the hand, such as prolonged gripping or typing.
  • Incorporating exercises to improve hand stability, wrist strength, and overall function.
The UK Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has excellent resources on their website on hand pain. Here you will find evidence-based facts, videos and guidance to help you overcome your hand pain.

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If you’re ready to take the first step towards resolving your hand pain, book your appointment today. You can book online via the button below, or you can contact our reception team on 061-201444.
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