Overuse, fractures and underlying medical conditions can all cause elbow or wrist pain. You may not realize how important the elbow and wrist are until the pain impedes you from doing simple day-to-day tasks like dressing or cutting your food. The pain can even prevent you from participating in leisure activities or performing your job duties.
Common Issues Affecting the Elbow and Wrist
Carpal tunnel syndrome affects approximately 6 percent of adults. This symptom causes pain, weakness, and numbness in the hand. This syndrome is a result of a pinched nerve in your wrist. It can be caused by the positioning of your wrists while using the keyboard, prolonged exposure to the vibration of power tools, typing or playing the piano.
Tennis elbow results from overuse of the elbow from playing sports like tennis or racquetball. With overuse, there is an inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles to the elbow bones. Golfer’s elbow is an overuse injury like tennis elbow, but the pain is located at the inside of the elbow instead of the outer side.
There are different types of arthritis that can affect the joints in the elbow and wrist. Typically, there is pain, inflammation, and stiffness. Osteoarthritis is the most common kind of arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage at the ends of bones wears away and bone rubs against bone. Pain can become chronic. This type of arthritis is typically progressive and can limit your daily activities.
Fractures to the elbow or wrist can cause pain. Likely, you’ll have to immobilize the fracture and may be in a cast or splint for a while. This period of immobilization can lead to weakness and loss of range of motion. With the help of an Physical Therapist, you can learn stretching and strengthening exercises to get you back to your normal activities.
Occupational Therapy for Elbow and Wrist Pain
An Occupational Therapist can educate you on stretching exercises to help improve the flexibility of the wrist. Heat and cold therapy may be implemented to help reduce inflammation and pain. Your Occupational Therapist will also educate you on activity modifications such as how to change wrist positions and take breaks during repetitive activities.
With tennis and golfer’s elbow, one of the first things an Occupational Therapist will do is educate you on activity modifications in order to reduce or avoid the cause of your pain. You will also be taught how to perform effective stretches and use heat and cold to address pain and inflammation.
When it comes to treating arthritis, the goal of an Occupational Therapy program is to reduce pain, increase the range of motion, strengthen the muscles that support an arthritic joint and keep you mobile. Education on activity modification and adaptation is also essential as this is what will help you manage your symptoms long term.
Are you experiencing elbow or wrist pain? Occupational Therapy can help! A comprehensive evaluation will be performed and a custom-tailored treatment plan will be created to target your specific condition and your individual needs. Contact our team of physical therapist Today at Pinellas Park & Seminole, FL Centers to learn more. We are committed to getting you back to the activities you love!
