Certified hand therapy can help you reduce current symptoms, prevent future symptoms, and educate you on ways to alter your environment and daily tasks to maximize your comfort. Our certified hand therapists at Twin Boro Physical Therapy in Toms River have years of experience treating complex conditions of the hands and can help you on the path to optimal movement and comfort. Lakewood, New Jersey, residents should waste no time in scheduling their first appointment.
Twin Boro Physical Therapy has been a leader in rehabilitative care in New Jersey since 1980. We are the largest private physical therapy clinic in the state and are consistently voted the best. At each of our 27 locations, we uphold a high level of patient care and treatment standards to help our patients reach their goals. For our patients interested in certified hand therapy, we employ expert professionals and utilize state-of-the-art methods at 10 of our convenient locations across the state.
Treatment for Mallet Finger
Mallet finger, sometimes called baseball finger, is a condition in which the tendon along the back of the finger is injured due to a blow to the tip of the finger or thumb. This causes the finger to be unable to straighten and leads to the tip of the finger bending in towards the palm of the hand. Depending on the severity of the injury and length of time between injury and treatment, both nonsurgical and surgical treatments may be recommended.
Nonsurgical Treatment
Typically, mallet finger injuries can be treated non-surgically. The most common first line of treatment is splinting to straighten the finger. Cold treatments and elevation are also used in order to reduce swelling. If needed in a pinch, tongue depressors or popsicle sticks can be used as makeshift splints to keep the finger straight.
Splints and casts of many types can be used to help keep the finger straight while the tendon heals. This is important in order to prevent the finger from healing crooked, which can cause much more difficulty with straightening the finger in future treatments. Typically, splints or casts are used for 8 weeks. After the first 4 weeks, sometimes the splint can be worn during sleep and taken off during some daily activities. However, this depends on the patient and specific injury, and a surgeon or certified hand therapist can guide you on the best way to wear the splint for optimal results.
In addition to splinting, your hand therapist will incorporate therapeutic exercises to maintain the motion of the other joints to reduce stiffness during the healing process. After the injured finger has healed, many patients need continued hand therapy to reduce the appearance of any drooping or continued abnormalities. Typically, daily function is not affected.
Surgical Treatment
If there is a large fracture or injury associated with the mallet finger injury, such as joint misalignment, surgery may be needed to realign the joint. Surgery may also be considered if nonsurgical treatments were unsuccessful, which often includes wiring the finger straight and stitching the tendon together or making a new tendon. Sometimes, the joint may be fused together. In any case, the surgeon will recommend the best treatment method and follow-up care plan for the best outcomes.
Let’s Connect!
Residents of Lakewood, New Jersey, should visit our Twin Boro Physical Therapy location in Toms River to make their first certified hand therapy appointment. To contact us, call 732-554-0622 or visit our website.
