Hand and wrist injuries

General Advice

You may have experienced one of the following wrist or hand injuries

• breaks (fractures) of the wrist and fingers. Exercises are important in regaining full function in the wrist and fingers after a break
• sprained wrists
• carpal tunnel syndrome. This is pressure on the nerves as they pass through the carpal tunnel of the wrist into the hand. Carpal Tunnel syndrome can be exacerbated by repeated use at the wrist, for example with computer work, and is common in pregnancy.

To help you self manage your wrist or hand injury, we encourage you to first read our articles, since all injuries are unique.

To greatly improve your chance in succeeding the self management of your injury, our expert team of Chartered Physiotherapists can help. You can choose a physio, with the specialist skills to treat your injury with a personalised programme.

---

Articles

• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): an Effective Form of Pain Relief

  by Jane Hodgson 20 September 2009

  Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation often abbreviated to TENS or TNS is the use of a small  electric current passed through the skin to promote pain relief

• Cyclists Hand: Handlebar palsy

  by Jane Hodgson 12 June 2009

  Ulnar neuritis at the wrist is also referred to as handlebar palsy, cyclist palsy, or ulnar neuropathy. Symptoms include pins and needles and pain in the hand.

• Cyclists Hand: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  by Jane Hodgson 12 June 2009

  Carpal Tunnel syndrome causes pins and needles in the hand and pain on gripping. Altering your bike set up and strengthening your core stability muscles can alleviate the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  by Jane Hodgson 5 June 2009

  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is compression of the median nerve as it passes through a tunnel at the wrist into the hand. Common symptoms include pins and needles in the hand and pain when gripping things.

• Computer work can be such a pain.

  by Jane Hodgson 2 October 2008

  Working in a poor position at the computer can cause pain in the neck, lower back, hip, upper back, wrist and arms. Our ergonomic information will help you to check how well your workstation is set up

• Helping to heal an injury with ice

  by Jane Hodgson 20 April 2008

  It is common to help heal an injury with ice. Deciding whether you should apply ice rather than heat, and for how long can make the difference between helping to heal your injury and making it worse.

---

Useful links

Editors Choice 

• Arthritis Resarch Council The Arthritis Research Councils information leaflet about Carpal Tunnel syndrome