How Physiotherapy Can Help Hand and Wrist Pain

Understanding Hand and Wrist Pain

The hand and wrist are incredibly complex structures. Together, they contain:

• 27 bones
• Over 30 joints
• Dozens of muscles, tendons, and ligaments
• Several major nerves and blood vessels

Because of this intricate design, many different conditions can lead to hand and wrist pain. Common causes include:

• Overuse injuries from repetitive movements
• Sudden trauma or falls causing sprains, fractures, or dislocations
• Degenerative conditions such as arthritis
• Nerve compression such as carpal tunnel syndrome
• Post-surgical rehabilitation
• Sport-specific strain or workplace-related tension

Whatever the cause, the good news is that most hand and wrist pain can be effectively managed with physiotherapy, especially when addressed early.

Common Hand and Wrist Conditions We Treat at PR Physio

Our experienced team of physiotherapists works with clients of all ages and lifestyles to address a wide range of hand and wrist issues, including:

1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

A common condition caused by compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Symptoms include pain, numbness, tingling and weakness, especially in the thumb, index and middle fingers.

2. Wrist Sprains and Strains

These often result from falls, sports injuries or awkward twisting. They can affect ligaments (sprains) or muscles/tendons (strains), leading to pain, swelling and reduced grip strength.

3. Tendonitis and Tendinopathy

Inflammation or degeneration of the tendons around the wrist and hand can occur from overuse or repetitive tasks (e.g., typing, lifting, or manual labour).

4. De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis

An overuse condition involving inflammation of the tendons at the base of the thumb. Common in new parents, tradespeople and those who use their thumbs frequently (e.g., scrolling on smartphones).

5. Arthritis

Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can affect the small joints in the hand and wrist, leading to stiffness, swelling and reduced dexterity.

6. Fracture Rehabilitation

Following a wrist, hand or finger fracture, physiotherapy is essential to restore mobility, reduce stiffness and rebuild strength, especially after time spent in a cast or splint.

7. Post-Surgical Rehab

Whether it’s for carpal tunnel release, fracture fixation or tendon repair, post-operative physiotherapy helps ensure optimal healing and function.

How Physiotherapy at PR Physio Can Help

At PR Physio, we use a holistic, hands-on, and evidence-based approach to help you recover from hand and wrist pain. Our treatment plans are always tailored to you, your body, your lifestyle and your goals.

Here’s how we help:

1. Comprehensive Assessment

Every treatment begins with a thorough assessment. We’ll take the time to:

• Understand your symptoms, history and daily activity demands
• Examine joint mobility, strength, flexibility and coordination
• Identify which structures are involved - bones, joints, tendons, nerves or muscles
• Look at contributing factors like posture, neck/shoulder mechanics or ergonomics

We may also assess your grip strength, dexterity, nerve sensation and functional ability like opening jars, typing or carrying objects.

This thorough approach ensures we target the root cause of your pain, not just the symptoms.

2. Hands-On Treatment to Relieve Pain

Once we understand the source of your discomfort, we use a range of manual therapy techniques to:

• Reduce pain and inflammation
• Improve joint mobility and alignment
• Relieve muscle tension or tendon tightness
• Support healing and tissue recovery
• Treatments may include:
• Joint mobilisations and soft tissue massage
• Nerve gliding techniques
• Trigger point release
• Swelling and scar management
• Taping, splinting or bracing for support

These techniques provide relief while preparing your hand or wrist for the next phase of rehabilitation.

3. Individualised Exercise Rehab

Targeted exercise is a key part of recovery. We design a personalised exercise programme to:

• Restore flexibility and movement
• Rebuild grip and pinch strength
• Improve wrist control and coordination
• Promote tendon and nerve gliding
• Return you to your normal tasks, work or sport
• Your programme may include
• Stretching and mobility drills
• Resistance training with bands
• Functional hand exercises (e.g., picking up coins, opening bottles)
• Ergonomic and posture correction exercises

We guide you through each stage of the programme and adjust it as you progress.

4. Education and Activity Modification

Understanding why your pain occurred is essential for long-term results. We’ll help you:

• Learn what activities to avoid or modify temporarily
• Make adjustments to your work setup or equipment
• Choose the right supports, braces or ergonomic tools
• Practise safe lifting and hand positioning techniques
• Identify early signs of flare-ups to manage symptoms early

Education is empowerment and we want you to feel in control of your recovery.

5. Long-Term Recovery and Prevention

Our goal isn’t just to get you out of pain. We want to keep you feeling strong, functional and pain-free long after treatment ends. We’ll help you:

• Build resilience in your hand and wrist
• Improve overall upper body strength and posture
• Avoid repetitive strain or future injury
• Safely return to sport, work or daily life
• Monitor your progress and adapt your plan as needed

If your condition is chronic or degenerative (like arthritis), we’ll support you with long-term management strategies and flare-up prevention.