Are you having difficulty gripping objects like cooking utensils or cups? Do you feel pain when moving your fingers? If you do, you may be one of the many people living with arthritis in the hands. This type of arthritis can make daily life very difficult, but there are treatments for hand arthritis that a physical therapist can help you with.
1. Manual therapy
Arthritis in the hand can benefit from manual therapy treatments done by an experienced physical therapist. This treatment will involve the therapist using their hands to perform movements designed to help your hands. For example, therapists can use joint mobilization movements intended to help improve finger or thumb joint range of motion, and these movements are designed to move the joints in ways you’re not able to.
Another type of manual therapy that can be used for hand arthritis is soft tissue mobilization. When a therapist performs soft tissue mobilization, the movements are intended to help reduce tension in hand muscles, tendons and ligaments. Reducing tension in these areas can help by improving joint range of motion and reducing pain.
2. Adapting your environment
Another form of treatment for arthritis in the hands that your physical therapist can help you with is adapting your home. This will involve talking to you about ways you can reduce the strain on your hands around the house. Therapists may suggest having a touch-activated faucet installed in your kitchen. This can be helpful for hand arthritis because you won’t have to grip or pull on anything to turn the faucet on.
They can also make recommendations about reducing strain on your hands by moving to electric can openers or jar openers. Also, your therapist may suggest that you replace heavy pots and pans with lighter options, which can make them easier for you to grip while cooking. Even small changes like these can lead to a significant improvement in your quality of life with hand arthritis.
3. Joint splinting
Joint splinting is yet another hand arthritis treatment option that a physical therapist can help you with. The goal of splinting is to immobilize specific finger or thumb joints that are causing you lots of pain. The splint can help with the pain because holding the joint still for a while can reduce pressure on the joint, and the decreased pressure can lead to reductions in your pain.
For people who aren’t sure which splints are the best option for them, a physical therapist can be an informational resource. They can also help you figure out how to wear the splint properly, and therapists can also offer advice about how long and when to wear your splint.
Find help for arthritis in your hands at Border Therapy Services
In the El Paso and Horizon City, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, areas, you’ll find Border Therapy Services clinics that can help you treat arthritis in your hands, hips, knees and other joints. Our team will perform a one-on-one evaluation on you, and then, we’ll use the information we gather to build you a personalized therapy plan intended to offer benefits like:
- Reduced pain
- Improved range of motion
- Increased ability to do normal daily tasks
- Improved quality of life
Take the next step to get our support on your journey with arthritis. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an appointment.