Elbow, Wrist & Hand Pain Services in Chattanooga & Cleveland, TN
Elbow Pain
Elbow pain typically occurs due to overuse of the elbow joint from repetitive activities. Bad typing posture, writing, lifting, or sports irritates the tissue around the elbow.
The elbow's joints move in very unique ways. The same bones (radius and ulnar) that make up the elbow also form the wrist and play a key role in the movements of the hands. Most of the muscles in your wrist and fingers move are actually located in the forearm.
Poor posture and repetitive activities such as typing, gripping, and twisting can tighten the muscles and tissues of the forearm. This can affect the mobility of the elbow, wrist and even hands and can lead to chronic inflammation and irritation in these areas.
Physical therapy helps to relieve elbow, wrist, and hand pain by examining the mechanics of your joints and muscles. By identifying where you are having limitations, analyzing your daily activities and the strength of certain muscle groups, we can discover the root cause of your pain.
A comprehensive plan is then built to improve your range of motion, reduce your pain quickly, soothe stiff and sore muscles, and return your strength. We also work with you to educate you on techniques and exercises to prevent future injury. Call us today to discover how we can help relieve your elbow pain, wrist pain or hand pain.
Tendon Repair & Post-Surgery Rehab
Common surgeries in the elbow, wrist and hand involve repair of the vast amount of tendons and ligaments in these areas. Depending on the type and extent of your surgery, your physician will recommend physical therapy to help you recover completely from your surgical procedure.
The fingers, hand and wrist are very tightly packed with tendons, ligaments and intricate structures. This means that swelling is very common in these areas after surgery and can become quite stiff leading to loss of range of motion, gripping, dexterity and normal functioning of the fingers, hand, wrist or elbow.
We work closely with your physician and their protocol to ensure a complete recovery from your surgical procedure. Our gentle and specialized hands-on therapy manages the swelling in your fingers, hand, wrist or elbow. The better this swelling is controlled, the faster your recovery can be. Per your surgical rehab protocol, we will progress your range of motion and eventually begin strengthening of the affected areas.
Our goal is to make sure you have a complete recovery with good use of your fingers, hand, wrist or elbow for everyday tasks. For more details on our post-surgical rehab program, call us today!
Wrist Fractures
Fractures in the wrist and forearm area are common with falls, as the tendency is to protect oneself during a fall. Common fractures occur in the in forearm bones (radius and ulnar) near the wrist. Two common fractures are called Colles’ fracture and Smith’s fracture. Colles’ fractures typically occur from falls onto an outstretched hand and Smith’s fractures occur from falling backward onto an outstretched hand.
Another common fracture of the wrist and hand is the Scaphoid fracture, which is a small bone in the hand. The scaphoid bone connects with the radius bone of the forearm. Scaphoid fractures heal with difficulty due to poor circulation to the bone.
Fractures need medical attention and, depending on the type and severity of the fracture, may need a cast or surgery.
After surgery, the fingers, wrist and elbow can become very stiff, and range of motion and strength are lost. Physical therapy helps you regain normal range of motion, reduce swelling, resolve pain, and regain function of your hand and wrist.
Physical therapy is gentle and will help you quickly resolve your pain and restore your function. With physical therapy, you can make a complete recovery quickly and safely. Call us today to learn more how we can help you fully recover after a fracture.
Sprain / Strain
Sprains and strains are very common in the hand, wrist and elbow. Sprains refer to injuries of the ligaments (connect bone to bone) and strains refer to injuries of the muscles or tendons (connect muscle to bone). Sprains and strains occur from quick over-stretching of the tissues, causing micro-tearing and subsequent injury. Swelling begins as part of the inflammation process, causing pain and difficulty with movement.
The first step in treating sprains or strains in the wrist, elbow, hand, or fingers is to rest, ice and elevate it. There are different levels of sprain or strain from mild to severe. In some cases, the tearing can be complete and even need surgical repair.
In most cases, physical therapy will help you recover from a sprain or strain. We first evaluate the injured area to determine the extent of the injury and ensure that the ligaments or tendons are still intact. After we pinpoint the injured area, we devise a treatment plan that will quickly relieve your swelling and pain and begin restoring range of motion.
The goal of physical therapy is to restore your normal range of motion and eventually restore normal strength. If you participate in sports or are very active, we work closely with you to make sure that we help you fully recover and can participate in those activities you love to do. Call us today to discover how we can effectively treat your sprains or strains.