Hand and wrist injury guide
The hand and wrist form one of the most complex and versatile structures of the human body, essential for a vast range of movements and daily activities. The wrist is the joint that connects the forearm to the hand and is composed of eight small bones, known as the carpal bones, in addition to the forearm bones (radius and ulna). The hand, in turn, consists of five metacarpals and fourteen phalanges, allowing for the flexibility and dexterity necessary for fine and precise movements. This complex network of bones is complemented by muscles, tendons, and ligaments that provide movement and stability.
The intricate design of the hand and wrist allows not only for the performance of basic movements, such as gripping and releasing, but also for the execution of delicate and precise tasks. The health of the hand and wrist is crucial, as problems in these areas can significantly affect quality of life, limiting the ability to perform simple daily tasks. Maintaining the health of the hand and wrist involves preventing injuries by adopting appropriate techniques during manual activities, as well as performing regular exercises to strengthen and increase the flexibility of these areas.
The health of the hip and thigh is essential for overall mobility and the ability to perform daily activities without pain or discomfort. Problems in this area can significantly limit movement and affect quality of life. Maintaining the health of the hip and thigh involves not only preventing injuries through strengthening and stretching exercises, but also maintaining a healthy body weight and adopting correct techniques during physical activities.
Hand and Wrist Injuries: Common pathologies
Hand and wrist injuries are frequent, especially due to repetitive movements or overuse in daily and work activities. One of the most common injuries is tendinitis, an inflammation of the tendons that can cause pain and stiffness.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition resulting from the compression of the median nerve in the wrist, is another frequent injury, characterized by pain, tingling, and loss of strength in the hand. Fractures and sprains are also common, particularly in activities that involve a risk of falling or direct impact. Furthermore, conditions such as arthritis can affect the joints of the hands and wrists, causing pain and limited movement.
Preventing hand and wrist injuries involves avoiding repetitive movements or prolonged use of force, maintaining good posture, and performing strengthening and stretching exercises. In the event of an injury or persistent discomfort, it is essential to seek medical advice for a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Learn about the most common hand and wrist injuries – causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Most frequent hand and wrist pathologies
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome develops due to the compression of the median nerve, which runs from the arm to the hand, as it passes through the carpal tunnel (an anatomical region of the wrist). This compression causes pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand, wrist, and fingers.
Symptoms
Pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand, wrist, thumb, index and middle fingers, and sometimes the ring finger, usually during the night. A sensation of an “electric shock” or pain traveling from the wrist up the arm; in more severe cases, there may be hand weakness with reduced grip strength (the ability to hold and manipulate objects using the hands – grabbing, holding, lifting, and moving objects with the hands and fingers).
Risk Factors
Wrist injury or inflammation; intensive use of the hands, for example, when working with computers, using vibrating tools, or equipment that requires maintaining a strong grip; Hypothyroidism; Diabetes; Rheumatoid arthritis; Obesity; Female gender; Pregnancy; Advanced age.
Protective Factors
Ergonomic posture while sitting or standing, whether at work or during other daily activities, to allow the wrist and hand to rest; avoiding keeping the hands or wrists in the same position for long periods; avoiding repetitive movements that could cause wrist or hand injuries; practicing stretching and muscle-strengthening exercises for the hand and wrist.
Treatment
Use of a wrist splint to immobilize the hand and reduce compression of the median nerve; muscle-strengthening exercises and relief of inflammation with local ice application may be adjunctive. However, some cases of nerve compression may require minimally invasive treatments or surgical resolution.
Wrist Tendonitis
Wrist Tendonitis
Wrist tendinitis, unlike a sprain which corresponds to an acute ligament injury, develops due to overuse or repetitive movements, resulting in inflammation of the tendons that make up the wrist joint, causing pain and discomfort in the wrist area.
Symptoms
Pain in the wrist that may extend to the forearm. There may also be tenderness to touch, localized swelling, and difficulty moving the wrist.
Risk Factors
Activities involving repetitive wrist movements or poor posture during such activities: typing on a computer for long periods, using hand tools that involve using the wrist, or playing sports such as racquet sports; Previous wrist injuries; Certain underlying medical conditions, such as arthritis.
Protective Factors
Practicing proper ergonomics when working or performing activities that require wrist movements, such as: using a wrist rest for a keyboard or computer mouse; regular breaks for rest and stretching; and avoiding excessive repetitive movements.
Treatment
It generally involves a combination of rest, applying ice locally to reduce pain and inflammation, as well as the use of orthoses to immobilize and/or "support" the wrist, which will reduce the movement of the wrist structures and allow the tendons to recover. The execution of specific exercises to strengthen the wrist muscles and tendons should also be included. In more severe or persistent cases, surgical intervention may be necessary.
De Quervain's tenosynovitis
De Quervain's tenosynovitis
De Quervain's tenosynovitis is characterized by inflammation of the tendons that pass through a tunnel in the wrist area, near the base of the thumb, with pain associated with the movement of these tendons. This pain can be triggered by applying pressure to the side of the thumb near the wrist and by forcing the thumb to open against resistance.
Symptoms
Pain and/or swelling at the base of the thumb; Difficulty moving the thumb and wrist when "pinching," turning or flexing the wrist, closing the hand, or gripping an object; A sensation of the thumb being "stuck" when attempting to move it; Some people may also feel numbness in the thumb or adjacent fingers. If left untreated, the pain may spread to the palm or forearm.
Risk Factors
Direct injury to the wrist or the tendons that control thumb movement; Activities involving repetitive hand movements that require wrist and/or thumb strength (such as lifting heavy objects or repeatedly twisting the hand) or using tools that require repetitive motions (as in gardening and racket sports); adults between 30 and 50 years of age; women; pregnancy; and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Protective Factors
Appropriate equipment and movements, especially those that are repetitive, with sufficient rest between activities that require significant strength; and performing stretching and muscle-strengthening exercises for the wrist, hand, and thumb.
Treatment
Rest is recommended (avoiding activities that require movement and strength from the thumb and wrist), as is applying ice or a cold compress locally for 5 to 20 minutes every 4 hours for 2 to 3 days. The use of a thumb and wrist brace to immobilize them creates a window of opportunity for rest and, consequently, recovery.
Trigger finger / Stenosing tenosynovitis
Trigger finger / Stenosing tenosynovitis
“Trigger finger,” scientifically known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a condition that affects the tendons and joints of the fingers, especially the thumb and middle fingers. It is characterized by a shortening and thickening of the flexor tendons, which can result in difficulty extending or flexing the affected finger smoothly.
Symptoms
Difficulty in flexion or extension: The affected finger often remains bent in a flexed position, and when trying to straighten it, a sensation of locking, catching, and pain may occur. There may be noticeable edema (swelling) at the base of the finger and the formation of a palpable nodule. Finger mobility becomes limited, which can hinder daily tasks, such as grasping objects.
Risk Factors
This pathology is more common in middle-aged and elderly adults. Women have a greater tendency to develop this pathology than men. It may be associated with certain conditions, such as diabetes and arthritis.
Protective Factors
Although there are no specific measures to prevent “trigger finger,” avoiding repetitive movements and performing regular exercises can help reduce the risk of developing this pathology.
Treatment
Treatment for “trigger finger” can vary depending on the severity of the symptoms. Specific exercises to improve range of motion and reduce pain. The use of a splint can help keep the finger in a straight position and reduce tendon irritation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain and inflammation. In more severe cases, the doctor may recommend a physical therapy plan and/or ultrasound-guided procedures to reduce inflammation.
In chronic cases or when non-invasive treatments do not work, surgery may be necessary to release the tendons and restore normal finger function.
Wrist instability or "sprained wrist"
Wrist instability or "sprained wrist"
Wrist instability, or "sprained wrist," is characterized by an inability to maintain wrist stability, accompanied by a feeling of weakness, pain, and difficulty in performing precise movements with the hand and wrist. It develops due to: traumatic injuries, such as falls or direct impacts to the wrist; ligamentous injuries, such as severe sprains or tears of the wrist ligaments; and chronic wear of the wrist structures, as occurs in arthritis.
Symptoms
A sensation of a "loose" or "sprained" wrist; pain in the wrist, especially during activities that require flexion, extension, or rotation; weakness in the wrist, making it difficult to perform tasks that require strength or precision; a feeling that the wrist might "give way" or "slip out of place"; and swelling and discomfort in the wrist area.
Risk Factors
Previous wrist injuries, such as sprains or fractures; participation in contact sports or activities involving repetitive wrist movements; advanced age, due to joint wear; and medical conditions, such as arthritis or ligamentous hyperlaxity.
Protective Factors
Performing strengthening and stabilization exercises for the wrist and adjacent musculature; using appropriate protective equipment when practicing sports or high-impact physical activities.
Treatment
Rest and temporary immobilization of the affected wrist; physical therapy to strengthen wrist muscles, increase stability, and improve range of motion; use of orthoses or splints to provide additional support and stabilization to the wrist; analgesic medications for pain relief and inflammation reduction; in severe cases or those refractory to conservative treatment, surgery may be considered.
Rhizarthrosis
Rhizarthrosis
Thumb osteoarthritis (rizarthrosis) is a form of osteoarthritis, which is the degeneration of the cartilage that lines the joints, and it affects the joint at the base of the thumb, known as the trapeziometacarpal joint. This is the joint that allows the thumb to move in various directions, making it extremely important for hand dexterity and performing daily tasks.
Symptoms
Pain at the base of the thumb, swelling, stiffness, weakness; difficulty holding small objects, writing, and opening containers.
Risk Factors
Aging due to cartilage wear; Female gender; Family history; Professions or activities involving repetitive hand movements, such as sewing or typing; Previous injuries to the thumb joint.
Protective Factors
Maintaining a healthy weight; Avoiding injuries with adequate rest; Muscle strengthening of the hand and thumb can help keep the joint healthy; Proper and ergonomic posture;
Treatment
Use of analgesic medication and splints or braces to support the thumb joint, in addition to hand muscle strengthening exercises to improve quality of life and prevent future injuries. In severe cases, medical and even surgical evaluation may be necessary.
Finger Arthritis
Finger Arthritis
Finger arthritis is an inflammation of the finger joints and is a condition associated with different forms of arthritis, which is a generic term that encompasses various diseases involving joint inflammation.
Symptoms
Pain, swelling, stiffness, and decreased range of motion in the affected joints. There may be tenderness to the touch and, in more advanced cases, joint deformities. Finger arthritis can interfere with daily activities, such as holding small objects, writing, or getting dressed.
Risk Factors
Advanced age; Female sex; Family history of arthritis; Previous joint injuries; Obesity or being overweight.
Protective Factors
Maintaining a healthy weight; Regular, low-impact physical exercise to strengthen the muscles around the joints; Healthy diet; Ensuring protection when performing activities that may strain the hands, such as writing for long periods of time, and taking regular breaks.
Treatment
Analgesic medication; Specific exercises can strengthen muscles and improve range of motion; Braces and splints can help relieve pressure on the joints; Medical evaluation is necessary in these cases.
Information: All information contained herein is merely a summary for a general understanding of the conditions, highlighting their definition, symptoms, risk factors, protective measures, and treatment options.
Consulting a specialized healthcare professional is essential for an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment plan.