5 Benefits of Hand Therapy for Hand Pain
Hand Therapy is Highly Effective for Pain Management
If you have hand or wrist pain and you want to avoid surgery, we have good news for you. A recent study showed that physical therapy for hand pain, specifically carpal tunnel, worked just as well as, and in some cases better than, surgery!
Manual therapy techniques combined with exercise has been shown to reduce hand pain caused by arthritis and help patients improve grip strength.
Benefits of Hand Therapy for Hand Pain
Hand pain can make it difficult to complete even the simplest of daily tasks. Whether your pain is a result of carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, accident or a median nerve injury, it can limit your abilities at home and at work. Thankfully, therapy for hand pain can help to provide some relief.
As with any physical therapy treatment, hand therapy provides patients with a holistic alternative to invasive treatments like surgery. Some of the many benefits of therapy for hand pain include:
- Conservative treatment method that works just as well as surgery in most cases
- Effective pain management for acute and chronic hand pain
- Speedier return to activities, work and sports
- Ability to perform home exercise programs designed to enhance range of motion and strengthen the area.
- Restored function and renewed confidence
Hand Therapy as an Alternative to Surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
An article in the March 2017 issue of Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy assesses the effectiveness of therapy and surgery to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. The study examined two groups of women with hand pain. One group pursued hand therapy for their pain, the other group elected for surgery.
“Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated with physical therapy or surgery. Although surgery may be considered when the symptoms are severe, more than a third of patients do not return to work within 8 weeks after an operation. Based on the potential side effects and risks of surgery, patients often ask if they might try physical therapy first.”
Researchers found similar improvement levels after one year, for both therapy and surgery patients, in terms of both function and symptom severity. However, the physical therapy group reported more significant gains within their first month of treatment. The earlier recovery of hand therapy patients is worth noting, as it allows those patients to return to activities and work sooner than those who underwent surgery.
The study authors conclude that hand therapy for pain is preferential to surgery for those who strive for faster results in early months of recovery.
Get Pain Relief at Twin Boro Physical Therapy
Experiencing hand or wrist pain? Evidence indicates that physical therapy is as effective as surgery for treatment. At Twin Boro Physical Therapy, your therapist will assess your hand condition and provide a combination of manual therapy and exercises for your hand to improve your recovery so that you can get back to enjoying a higher quality of life.
We are conveniently located throughout Monmouth County, Essex County and Morris County, New Jersey to help you get back to a healthy, pain-free life through a personalized therapy experience.
Contact one of our Certified Hand Therapy Locations in New Jersey to schedule an appointment today
