Stiffness, pain, or lack of fine motor skills in the fingers can quickly lead to difficulty with many daily tasks. Typing, painting, gaming, and even cooking can become extremely taxing. Twin Boro Physical Therapy in Parlin offers South River, New Jersey, residents access to high-quality certified hand therapy to improve daily function and get them back to the activities they love.
Twin Boro Physical Therapy is proud to offer certified hand therapy at 10 of 27 convenient locations across the state. Twin Boro Physical Therapy is the largest private physical therapy network in the state, and we have been able to expand our size thanks to the support from our patients and the greater New Jersey community. We pride ourselves on helping each patient reach their greatest potential, and our attention to detail is seen in the results of our patients.
In order to produce the best outcomes for our patients, we pair each patient one-on-one with a certified hand therapist. This one-on-one pairing allows for patient progress to be closely monitored. During each session, your hand therapist will look for improvements in each exercise and assess the way your body is responding to treatment. Based on this, your rehabilitation plan can incorporate real-time adjustments in order to ensure your time spent in the clinic is optimized for your success.
Therapeutic Techniques for Wrist Joint Mobilization
Distal Radioulnar Joint Mobilization
The distal radioulnar joint is the joint that is created in the wrist by the distal ends of the radius and ulna, which are the two bones in your lower arm. In order to create space in this region and alleviate pressure on the bones in the joint, certified hand therapists can use manual manipulation techniques to provide anteroposterior glide and medial and lateral rotary joint play movements for the distal ulna.
This technique is performed by the therapist placing their index finger in the web of the thumb of the patient and the thenar eminence (base of thumb) and wrapping their middle, ring, and pinky fingers around the distal radius. The therapist then creates space in the joint by pressing against the distal ulna with their thumb and pads of the fingers.
Thumb Metacarpal-Carpal Dorsal and Palmar Glides
Another way for certified hand therapists to promote joint mobilization of the wrist is through thumb meta-carpal dorsal and palmar glides. To perform these movements, the therapist will position the patient’s hand with the palm down and the joints unengaged. They will then grasp the distal forearm and grip the trapezium carpal (small bone at the base of your thumb) with one hand and the first metacarpal with the other hand. They will then glide the metacarpal towards the palm and dorsum to create adduction and abduction movements. Gently traction helps to provide relief and promote joint space.
If these manual manipulation techniques sound complicated to you, you are not alone! However, our certified hand therapists at Twin Boro Physical Therapy are experts at creating intentional movements in the joints to help promote healing of patients.
Let’s Begin!
A certified hand therapist can help you find relief from conditions of the hands and wrist through curated and intentional techniques. If you live or work in South River, New Jersey, schedule your first visit at our Parlin location by calling 732-943-1558 or visiting our website.
