Elbow & Hand conditions

Hand Anatomy

Anatomy model of a hand

  • An injury that’s typically caused by repetitive or excessive stress to the wrist and arm. Chances are, you’d experience pain in the elbow while gripping your hands, turning a door knob, or pouring water from jug.

    • Tennis Elbow aka (Lateral Epicondylitis):

      • Inflammation to tendons of the outer part of the elbow.

    • Golfer's Elbow aka (Medial Epicondylitis):

      • Inflammation to tendons of the inner part of the elbow.

    Symptoms

    • Pain around the elbow (outer for tennis elbow, inner for golfer’s elbow)

    • Pain when gripping, lifting, or twisting (e.g. opening jars, turning doorknobs)

    • Weakness in the wrist or forearm

    • Discomfort during repetitive arm or hand movements

    Treatment

    • Physiotherapy to reduce tendon irritation and promote healing

    • Strengthening of the forearm and wrist muscles

    • Activity modification to reduce repetitive strain

    • Gradual return to normal function with proper load management

    • Also known as Mummy’s thumb, due to the nature of how mums strain their wrist from carrying and caring for their newborns.

      • Inflammation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, resulting in pain and swelling.

    Symptoms

    • Pain on the thumb side of the wrist

    • Swelling or tenderness near the base of the thumb

    • Pain when gripping, lifting, or carrying (e.g. baby, phone, objects)

    • Discomfort with thumb or wrist movement

    Treatment

    • Physiotherapy to reduce tendon inflammation and irritation

    • Activity modification to reduce repetitive strain

    • Strengthening and mobility exercises for the wrist and thumb

    • Support (e.g. splinting) if needed during recovery

    • A condition where a finger gets stuck in a bent position and may straighten with a snap, caused by inflammation of the tendon sheath.

    Symptoms

    • Finger gets stuck or “locks” in a bent position

    • Clicking or snapping sensation when straightening

    • Pain or tenderness at the base of the finger

    • Stiffness, especially in the morning

    Treatment

    • Physiotherapy to reduce tendon irritation and improve movement

    • Activity modification to reduce repetitive gripping strain

    • Gentle mobility and strengthening exercises for the hand

    • Further assessment if locking persists or worsens

    • TFCC (Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex) Injury:

      • Damage to the cartilage and ligaments on the pinky side of the wrist, often resulting from trauma or repetitive stress.

      • This can lead to pain, swelling, and limited wrist mobility.

      • Pain is often felt in the wrist when putting pressure on your hands.

    • Wrist sprains:

      • Injuries to the ligaments or bones of the wrist, often due to falls or trauma.

    Symptoms

    • Pain on the pinky side of the wrist (especially with pressure or weight-bearing)

    • Swelling or tenderness around the wrist

    • Reduced grip strength or wrist stability

    • Pain with twisting movements (e.g. turning a doorknob, lifting)

    Treatment

    • Physiotherapy to reduce pain and restore wrist stability

    • Strengthening of the wrist and forearm muscles

    • Activity modification to reduce strain and allow healing

    • Support (e.g. bracing) if needed during recovery

    • Compression of the median nerve in the wrist, leading to pain, numbness, and tingling in the hand and fingers.

    Symptoms

    • Numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, and middle fingers

    • Hand weakness or reduced grip strength

    • Pain or discomfort in the wrist, especially at night

    • Symptoms worsened by repetitive hand use (typing, gripping)

    Treatment

    • Physiotherapy to reduce nerve compression and improve hand function

    • Activity modification and ergonomic adjustments

    • Nerve gliding and strengthening exercises

    • Support (e.g. wrist splinting) if needed during recovery

    • Further assessment if symptoms persist or worsen

  • Physiotherapy focuses on managing pain, reducing swelling, restoring range of motion, and gradually increasing strength.

    • Bone fracture repairs of the arm, forearm, wrist and fingers

      • These surgeries often involve the use of plates, screws, or other fixation devices to stabilize fractures during the healing process.

    • Ligament repairs

    • Carpal Tunnel Release

    • Elbow Arthroscopy & Tendon repairs