Blog
Wrist stability – How does it work?
Wrists are highly complex regions of the upper limb. Our wrists are responsible for positioning our hands to facilitate function and tolerating heavy loads that allow us to lift, carry, push and weight bear through our arms. Heavy demands are placed on our wrists...
“Use it or Lose it” – Wolff’s Law
You may have heard the saying “use it or lose it”. There is some truth in this statement and it encapsulates Wolff’s law, a rule that can describe how bone grows and changes over time, depending on the demands placed on that bone. Wolff’s law was developed by a...
TFCC injury
Injuries to our wrists are common, and as was mentioned in a previous blog on distal radius fractures, ligaments are also commonly injured with a fall or with a heavy twisting or lifting motion. The triangular fibro cartilage complex, also known as TFCC is a very...
Fractures vs soft tissue injuries, which is better?
When you injure yourself, most of the time the first thought that pops into your head is “Oh no, I hope I haven’t broken it!” It’s common to think that breaking a bone is the most severe injury you can sustain and one that will put you out of action for the longest...
Paediatric Trigger Thumb
Sometimes our littlest of hands get overlooked when thinking about hand conditions. Congenital hand conditions are wide and varied, causing anything from additional or missing digits, to webbed or curved digits, or abnormal growth of bones. A different condition that...
I’ve heard of a hand therapist, but what’s an AHT or CHT?
Hand injuries and dysfunction are common – every year in Australia 8,400 people attend hospital emergency departments for hand or wrist injuries, and thousands more live with non-urgent hand conditions such as arthritis or tendinopathies. Our hands and wrists are...
DeQuervain’s tenosynovits in new mums – “Mother’s Thumb”
The journey through pregnancy and post partum is individual and varied, however, there is no denying that there are significant demands on the body during this time. The wrists are just one part of the body that can be affected through repetitive lifting, positioning...
A Broken Wrist – Distal Radius fracture.
Most of us will know of someone who has had the unfortunate experience of having a broken wrist. Most commonly a wrist fracture will be the result from a trip or fall on an outstretched hand. Our wrist is made up of two long bones in the forearm – the radius and...
Immobilisation: does it help or hinder?
Is immobilisation always the key to healing injuries or reducing pain? The answer is no! Immobilisation can be an important part of tissue healing. For example, when we fracture our wrist, a plaster cast is typically applied in order to prevent movement of the...
Mallet finger – Why won’t the end of my finger straighten?
Finger injuries are common in life – our hands are how we interact with the world, and so whether it be through sport, work or just cleaning the house at home, our fingers typically take the brunt of any accidents. One of the most common injuries is one where the tip...
Base of thumb pain – is there something I can do?
Is your thumb pain restricting you from participating in your daily activities? Are you having pain in the thumb when opening jars, turning a door knob, or find your thumb pain is exacerbated in the wintery months but are unsure of the cause? It could be due to base...
I have had CTR surgery done – What happens now?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition, affecting the hand and fingers. Those with carpal tunnel can experience a range of symptoms to varying degrees of severity, however usually it causes pins and needles or numbness in the fingers and hand. It can also result...