From Our Blog

Upper Body – Wrist

Falling on an Outstretched Hand

Often times, our first instinct when falling is to put out our hands to soften the impact. However, this is one of the most common sources of hand and wrist injuries, frequently causing injuries and even fractures. After a fall on an outstretched hand, you may have lingering pain and/or swelling at the wrist. To […]

Watch for Wrist Pain After an Injury

If you have taken a fall on an outstretched hand with the palm facing down, you might have injured the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC). The TFCC provides stability to the wrist bones, acts as a shock absorber and helps the wrist to move. Gymnasts, athletes and those with repetitive strong forces on the wrist are […]

Navigating Recovery After a “Ship” Fracture

A scaphoid fracture refers to a fracture of the wrist—specifically the bone shaped like a boat, which is why it is often called a “ship” fracture. A fracture of this bone can result from falling on an outstretched arm, sustaining a direct blow to the wrist or receiving a severe twist of the wrist. A […]

Continuing Pain After Carpal Tunnel Surgery

Even after undergoing surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, some patients are still bothered by occasional tingling and numbness in the affected hand . Carpal tunnel syndrome involves the median nerve, which runs down the forearm, through the wrist and into the hand where it provides feeling and power to the palm, thumb and middle fingers. […]

Colles’ Fracture: Causes, Treatment, & Physical Therapy Rehabilitation

Colles’ Fracture: Don’t Strike Out When You Break Your Wrist You walk out of your house, trip on the sidewalk and attempt to break your fall with an outstretched arm. Immediately afterward, you notice pain, swelling and an inability to move your wrist. You have likely just sustained a broken wrist (or Colles’ fracture), one […]

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS): Causes, Triggers, & Treatment Guide

The Light at the End of the Carpal Tunnel What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) affects as many as one in 20 Americans. It occurs when the median nerve—the nerve that controls movement and sensation in the palm of the hand, thumb, and fingers—is compressed as it travels through the carpal tunnel. […]

Treating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Without Surgery

Carpal tunnel syndrome, a painful condition that causes numbness or “pins and needles” in the fingers and wrist, typically results when the median nerve, running from the forearm through the narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones (the carpal tunnel) into the palm of the hand, becomes squeezed at the wrist. The prevalence of computer […]

Relieve Burning Pain in the Wrist

Wrist pain can be a challenging problem to treat. This is especially true with regard to complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) of the wrist. It is a condition that remains poorly understood but has the hallmark symptom of pain. Wrist CRPS causes a persistent burning pain in the wrist—often following a minor injury or even […]

Getting Rid Of Ganglion Cysts: The Role of Physical Therapy in Treatment and Recovery

Getting Rid of Ganglion Cysts Ganglion cysts are a common and generally harmless condition, although they can be uncomfortable and may affect movement. They start out as bumps on the back of the hand and the sides of the wrist. The cyst itself is filled with fluid, which can thicken over time, making the cyst […]

Ganglion Cysts: Causes, Treatments, and Your Path to Recovery

Ganglion Cysts: That Ugly Lump on Your Wrist The lump on your wrist may look worrisome, but if your physician has diagnosed it as a ganglion cyst, there is no cause for alarm. Although they may grow larger, particularly after vigorous activity, these fluid-filled growths are not cancerous and will not spread. However, it is […]

Tenolysis and Beyond: Rehabilitation & Recovery

Restoring Wrist and Finger Movement After Tenolysis What is Tenolysis? Tenolysis is a surgical procedure performed on the fingers or wrist to address issues caused by scar tissue formation after a crush injury or surgical repair of a ruptured tendon. The scar tissue binds to the tendon or sheath, interfering with the tendon’s normal sliding […]

Recovering from a Colles’ Fracture

Most people are familiar with the concept of a wrist fracture, which refers to a break in one or more bones of the wrist. You may, however, have received a specific diagnosis of a Colles’ fracture, which occurs near the end of the radius—the arm bone that forms part of the wrist joint. Colles’ fractures […]