What is tennis elbow? Tennis elbow is the most common cause of pain on the outside of the elbow. It most commonly affects adults aged between 40-50 years. Although the condition involves gradual degeneration in the tendons on the outside of the elbow, it often occurs after a sudden episode of increased hand use where the tendons were overloaded. Symptoms include tenderness of the bone on the outside of the elbow (the lateral epicondyle) and pain with gripping and lifting. People with tennis elbow will notice significant loss of grip strength. The elbow can also feel stiff and become painful if ..read more

What is a Hand Therapist? A hand therapist is either an occupational therapist or physiotherapist who has undertaken additional training and accreditation in hand therapy. Hand therapists exclusively treat conditions affecting the hands, wrists, and upper extremities. These conditions can range from acute injuries, such as fractures and sprains, to chronic conditions like arthritis and repetitive strain injuries. Reasons Why you Might Consider Seeing a Hand Therapist: Achieve a proper diagnosis: It is essential to have an accurate diagnosis in order to receive the most appropriate treatment fo ..read more

Many people who frequent the gym, whether to lift weights, attend exercise classes or crossfit, find that their wrists and fingers become sore and stiff after exercise. There are many ways of reducing the load, strain or impact through your hands at the gym, to prevent potential injuries. Our hands are one of our most valuable assets, so it is important to look after them. Here are some tips to reduce the chances of developing hand and wrist pain at the gym. Practise good form when lifting, pushing and pulling weights. Try to keep your wrist straight (in alignment with your forearm) during exe ..read more

Are you struggling with a crooked finger, wondering if there's a way to restore it to its natural, straight position? The good news is that in many cases, a crooked finger can be corrected with specialised help from a hand therapist. At Bayside Hand therapy we provide a number of techniques to help you regain the functionality and appearance of your finger. One of the most effective ways to restore extension to a bent finger is by applying a gentle sustained corrective force over a long period of time with a custom-made splint/orthosis. Our therapists are experts in the fabrication of orthoses ..read more

So you are considering carpal tunnel surgery. Although every individual's experience may vary slightly, this guide will give you a general understanding of what lies ahead. During carpal tunnel surgery, also called carpal tunnel decompression surgery, the surgeon cuts the transverse carpal ligament to relieve pressure on the median nerve. This is a relatively quick procedure which is usually performed as day surgery. You will be sent home with a bulky bandage on your wrist. No splint is required following the surgery. Your fingers may continue to feel numb for 24 hours or so after the surgery ..read more

How to keep your hand clean while it is in a cast... Unless you have been fitted with a waterproof cast, it is important to keep the cast dry. A large plastic bag may be taped onto the arm for showering but for a more reliable way to keep the cast dry, waterproof cast covers are available. To clean your skin above and below the cast, use a wet wipe to avoid any water wetting the cast padding. If you have a synthetic cast with waterproof lining then this can get wet in the shower. In this case let the water run down through the cast with a small amount of soap, keep the water running through u ..read more

Joint hypermobility is when a joint can move past the normal range. People used to call this being "double jointed". The extra movement is due to extra loose ligaments around the joint. Ligaments are tough bands of connective tissue that link two bones together at a joint. They strengthen the joint and limit its movement in certain directions. People with hypermobile joints have ligaments which are easily stretched. Having extra loose joints is very common, especially amongst women. Hyperlaxity is seen in 10% of the Western population and up to 25% in other populations. Some people are only e ..read more

Many people consider osteoarthritis to be an inevitable part of old age. While it certainly does become more common with age and there is currently no cure for osteoarthritis, seeing a hand therapist can help to make living with hand arthritis easier. What is Osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of cartilage, the smooth, flexible coating on the bones where two bones meet to form a joint. Cartilage acts as a shock absorber for our joints and is responsible for the frictionless movement of joints. When the cartilage breaks down, the underlying bone is gradually exposed leading to pain ..read more

Buckle fractures at the wrist (radius and/or ulna) are a common childhood injury. Because children's bones are less brittle than adults' bones, the surface of the bone may 'buckle' instead of the bone breaking right through. Sometimes called Torus fractures, buckle fractures result from compression of a bone, typically from falling on an outstretched hand. It may be difficult to recognize when your child has sustained a buckle fracture as there may be no noticeable deformity, but the wrist may be swollen or bruised and painful to touch. A small bump can sometimes be seen or felt. The child wi ..read more

Handlebar or cyclists' palsy is a condition resulting from compression of a nerve in the front of the wrist. Unlike carpal tunnel syndrome which involves compression of the median nerve in the middle of the wrist, handlebar palsy is a far less common condition involving the ulnar nerve on the little finger side of the wrist. It is also known as Guyon's Canal Syndrome or Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome, as the nerve is compressed as it passes through a narrow space called Guyon's canal. What are the signs and Symptoms of Handlebar Palsy? Someone with handlebar palsy may experience some or all of the fol ..read more