How Can Hand Therapy Help Treat Arthritis?

How Can Hand Therapy Help with the Treatment of Arthritis?

Are you suffering from hand arthritis? Hand therapy can be used to support the treatment of hand arthritis and provide pain relief. 

What is Hand Arthritis?

Arthritis refers to a range of disorders that affect the joints, often resulting in pain and loss of mobility. There are three types of arthritis that can affect the hands: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, and psoriatic arthritis. While there is no definitive cure for arthritis, patients can experience pain relief and enjoy better mobility by incorporating hand therapy into their arthritis treatment. 

Common Symptoms of Hand Arthritis

Hand therapy can be used to treat a wide variety of issues caused by arthritis. These include the following:

• Pain in the hands 
• Swelling
• Deformed knuckles and finger joints
• Cysts
• Bone spurs
• Stiffness
• Reduced range of motion
• Weakened muscles and loss of strength

What is Hand Therapy?

Hand therapy is a specialized area of occupational therapy designed to help arthritis patients meet their long-term treatment goals. As such, hand therapists provide treatments designed specifically for conditions that affect the hands. Hand therapy consists not only of postoperative rehabilitation, but it also involves non-operative solutions and preventive care. 

Hand therapy may be recommended to patients who are already undergoing physiotherapy and who need specialized treatment for their hand conditions.

Benefits of Hand Therapy

Here are some of the positive outcomes of using hand therapy for the treatment of hand arthritis:

• Reduced swelling, stiffness, and inflammation in the knuckles and fingers
• Faster recovery period and lower treatment costs
• Strengthening of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the hands
• Wound and scar management 
• Improved mobility and flexibility
• Improved hand grip
• Custom splinting
• Pain relief
• And more

Using Hand Therapy for the Treatment of Hand Arthritis 

Hand therapy can help treat hand arthritis and alleviate pain. Your hand therapist will first start by assessing your condition to determine the best course of action tailored to your needs. You will then be provided with splints to support the bones in your hand and help with the healing process. 

Rehabilitation may also be recommended to increase your range of movement and improve the functionality of your fingers. In line with this, your hand therapist will also educate you on effective hand exercises that you can incorporate into your routine.

Other solutions that your hand therapist may suggest include the use of heat and cold therapy. They may also recommend certain ointments, medications, and injections to alleviate pain and reduce inflammation. In rare cases, surgery may also be suggested as the next course of action.

Hand Therapy in BC

Are you looking for effective hand arthritis treatment in BC? Back in Motion Health provides a wide range of services for patients suffering from painful conditions and reduced mobility. We have hand therapy services available in Coquitlam, Burnaby and surrounding areas. Contact us today to book an appointment.

Paramjot Dhillon earned her Master’s in Physiotherapy (Musculoskeletal) from Punjabi University, India, in 2009 and has over 11 years of experience in clinical practice and teaching. She was an Associate Professor at Christian Medical College and Hospital, India, and has published nine research articles in reputable journals.

Paramjot is certified in Functional Dry Needling Level 1 and Pelvic Health Level 1. She has also completed advanced courses in Mulligan Manual Therapy, sports-related concussion management, vestibular rehabilitation, and the evaluation and treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and orofacial pain.

Book online with Paramjot Dhillon in Coquitlam!