Hand injuries are common if you engage in sports or activities that require repetitive hand motions. You can suffer from sprains or fractures if your work involves constantly flexing your hands and wrist. You can minimize your risk of La Jolla hand injuries by performing tasks correctly and strengthening your hands to support different weights.
Common hand injuries include tendonitis, jersey finger, basketball (mallet) finger, arthritis, and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint dislocation.
Tips that can help you minimize hand injuries
You can implement the following ways in your routine to reduce hand injuries.
Strengthen your hands
Strong hands, wrists, and elbows can help you minimize injuries because they can handle the pressure of different weights. If you play sports that require you to use your hands excessively, like basketball, you need strong hands that can catch a moving ball without breaking bones. Engage in exercises that promote hand strength.
Wear protective clothes
Protecting your hands when performing duties can help keep injuries at bay. If you work in construction, you might need heavy-duty gloves to protect your hands and wrists from the friction between certain tools and your hands or cuts from your materials. Protecting your hands from sharp objects is also important to avoid cuts and infections.
Get proper training
Understanding how to use machinery at work can help prevent avoidable accidents. For example, reading a machine manual can help you understand hand placement when using a machine to avoid fractures or cuts. Ensure to switch off machinery when not using them to avoid injuries to you or your coworkers.
Stay alert at work
When you know your surroundings, you can notice when an area or machine is unsafe. Maintaining awareness at work will help you minimize your risk of injuries because you know exactly what is happening around you. To ensure your concentration is at peak, come to work well rested and free from a hangover, and don’t operate machines when drunk.
Common treatment options for hand injuries
The following are treatment options that your doctor might use.
Anti-inflammatory injections
Anti-inflammatory injections are ideal for pain and stiffness, especially after an arthritis diagnosis. The injections will reduce pain and swelling and promote a better range of motion and flexibility.
Physical therapy
After hand injuries that don’t require invasive treatments, your specialist might suggest rest and physical therapy exercises.
Braces and compression
Your doctor can recommend compression or braces to limit hand movement while promoting healing and stability. Wrist sleeves and braces allow your hands to rest and heal during recovery.
Surgery
Your specialist will recommend surgery if your hand injury cannot be treated through conservative treatments like physical therapy or medication. If you have severe arthritis, you might undergo surgery for joint replacement.
If you have recently suffered a hand injury, visit Upper Extremity Specialists of Ortho 1 Medical Group for treatment. After careful examination, the highly-qualified specialists will offer the most suitable treatment, depending on the severity of your injury. Call or schedule your appointment online to restore your hand function.
