Hand Therapy for Arthritis Pain in Your Hands
Discover How Targeted Exercises with Hand Therapy for Arthritis Can Help!
Are you noticing your hands aren’t as nimble as they used to be? Do you struggle with stiffness, pain, or swelling in your fingers and joints, especially in the morning? If so, you’re not alone. In fact, nearly half of all adults in the United States over the age of 75 experience arthritis symptoms, some of which can be indicative of hand osteoarthritis. This degenerative condition can make everyday tasks like opening jars, buttoning shirts, or even texting a challenge. Fortunately, though, hand therapy for arthritis can help you regain control of your hands, reduce painful symptoms of arthritis, and get back to doing what you love.
Keep reading to learn how!
Hand Therapy for Arthritis Pain Relief In Your Hands and Fingers
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition that affects joints throughout the body. It occurs due to the breakdown of cartilage, the tissue that cushions the ends of bones within a joint. While osteoarthritis can happen to any joint, hand osteoarthritis is fairly common, especially as we age. Fortunately, our therapists can help you manage the symptoms with hand therapy for arthritis.
Hand osteoarthritis occurs due to the degeneration of cartilage in the affected joint–in this case, the hand and fingers. A primary symptom is joint pain that worsens when using your affected hand. You may also notice joint stiffness and, over time, may struggle to open and close your fingers. Common places to experience hand osteoarthritis are at the base of the thumb, the joint closest to the fingertip, and the finger’s middle joint. One or both of your hands could be affected.
Wave Goodbye to Hand Arthritis Pain
A woman in her 50s began to experience severe symptoms of osteoarthritis. Every morning, her finger joints were so stiff that she struggled to brew coffee or brush her teeth. Her hands were frequently stiff and swollen, and most days she struggled with the pain. Even later in the day, after her joint stiffness faded, she often couldn’t complete basic tasks because her hands were so tender.
Her grip strength weakened, so she frequently dropped her keys and other objects and couldn’t use her phone to make calls, much less text or scroll on the Internet. Furthermore, she worried that the continued progression of her condition would lead to deformity in her hands and fingers, limiting her mobility even further.
While she had been utilizing medication to control her pain, she decided she wanted to take a more proactive approach to managing her osteoarthritis. She came to see one of our certified hand therapists, who showed her different hand therapies for arthritis, like mobility and strengthening exercises, to help reduce her pain and improve her hand’s mobility.
She knew that there was no cure for osteoarthritis, but with regular hand therapy, she managed her symptoms much more effectively, increasing her independence and improving her overall quality of life.
Arthritis Management at Cascade Hand & Orthopedic Rehab
Movement is crucial for good joint health, and that’s true in the hands just as it is elsewhere in the body. When you come in for your appointment, we will start by conducting a thorough assessment to help us understand your condition and symptoms. We’ll review your health history and ask you to complete movement, strength, and dexterity tests so we understand any limitations on your range of motion. From there, we’ll develop a customized treatment plan to help you address and manage your symptoms.
If you are suffering from arthritis pain in your hands, give us a call today!