Photo by Renith R. from Unsplash In the high-stakes world of competitive sports, where every second counts and the difference between victory and defeat often hinges on the finest of margins, the importance of peak physical condition cannot be overstated. Yet, amidst the focus on larger muscle groups and more visible injuries, an often-overlooked element can make or break an athlete’s performance: the health of their hands Hand injuries, ranging from minor sprains to complex fractures, are not just common; they are a pivotal aspect of sports that can drastically alter the course of an athlete ..read more

Do you have a snapping feeling over your knuckle when you make a fist? And are you having difficulty straightening your finger?   Sagittal Bands are the “tie downs” that connect to either side of our extensor tendons over the back of our hand at the knuckle or metacarpophalangeal joints (MCPJ). Their role is to make sure our tendon stays in place over the MCP joint when making a fist. It also holds the tendon close to the joint when you hyperextend the MCPJ preventing bowstringing.  If you have ruptured your sagittal band, the extensor tendon slips off to one side of the MCPJ ..read more

Dry needling uses an acupuncture needle to stimulate the muscle to produce a neurophysiological reaction and reflex relaxation. The needle encourages blood flow to the treated region, initiating the natural healing process and helping with pain relief. The treatment creates electrical signal in the muscle to enhance the communication and function between the nerve, muscle and brain.  These effects improve muscle function in addition to providing pain relief. Immediate effects can also be increased movement and increased strength. Dry needling feels like a brief pin prick sensation and c ..read more

The central slip is an important part of the extensor mechanism of the finger that inserts over the middle joint of the finger, the proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP). It plays an important role in extending, or straightening, this joint.  Damage to this structure can occur due to a deep cut over the PIP joint, a jammed finger, or even as a long-term consequence of Rheumatoid Arthritis. A central slip injury or rupture can also be called a Zone 3 extensor tendon injury.  If left untreated, the finger can become stiff and remain bent in a certain way, this is called a Boutonnière De ..read more

Do you often wake with your little finger and ring finger numb? Do you find after a long session of desk work your little finger and ring finger feel painful? You may have Cubital Tunnel syndrome. Cubital tunnel or “Ulnar nerve neuritis” basically means an inflammation of the ulnar nerve. The ulnar nerve can be compressed in a variety of different locations in the arm. Using the expertise of a hand therapist they can help establish where the compression may be and strategies to help alleviate your symptoms. Common symptoms may be: Altered sensation in the little finger and ring finger Pai ..read more

ECU Subluxation What is ECU Subluxation: The ECU, or Extensor Carpi Ulnaris, is a muscle of the forearm that extends the wrist and allows your wrist to move backwards and toward your little finger. The muscle originates from the outer most point of your elbow and travels along the forearm to the hand, where it inserts into the fifth metacarpal, the bone that leads to the little finger.  The ECU tendon passes through a (fibrous sheath) tunnel at the base of the wrist (ulna), and when this sheath is injured, the tendon can be affected. This can occur from a single traumatic event or with re ..read more

What is a mallet finger? Mallet finger is usually caused by a sudden blow to the tip of your finger (or thumb) that then results in being unable to straighten the tip of your finger. The sudden force to the tip of the finger has caused the tendon to rupture (tendinous mallet injury) or the tendon and a piece of bone has been pulled away (bony mallet injury), resulting in there being no mechanism to pull the finger back straight. How do I know I have a mallet finger injury? The tip finger joint can be pushed straight but you cannot hold that position when the support is removed. You may also h ..read more

Pain is a normal response which acts like a warning or alarm to what is a possible threat. We all experience pain in one way or another but what happens when the pain doesn’t go away. It may surprise you to learn 1 in 5 people have chronic or persisting pain. This is pain that lasts for more than 3 months. It many be most or all of the time and may have many different causes.  Chronic pain can be broken down to two general causes. Nociceptive pain is from an injury or joint degeneration like arthritis. Sometimes after the tissue has healed the pain may return and could become constant. T ..read more

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex – TFCC Do you suffer from wrist pain on the little finger side of your wrist but your X-rays or Ultrasound are normal? One of the most common injuries we see in hand therapy is a pain on the little finger side of the wrist. The wrist can be excruciatingly painful but when the Doctor orders an X-Ray or Ultrasound, often nothing can be found! Many patients attend hand therapy feeling relieved that their wrist is not broken but are still wondering… what is the matter then?!? Often these patients will experience pain and/or clicking and clunking of their wrist whe ..read more

A scar develops as part of the natural healing process following the skin surface being injured; this may include a burn, traumatic injury or surgery. Typically, scar tissue begins to fill in the wound within 2-3 days of the injury occurring and can continue to develop for many weeks and months. During the early phase of scar formation, the scar is referred to as “immature” with the scar usually appearing red. This phase can continue for up to 18months to 2 years. As the scar begins to “mature”, it should become increasingly more flat, pale and soft. It is best to treat the scar during the ea ..read more