How de Quervain’s tenosynovitis physical therapy helps you?

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is a painful disease that damages the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. If you are experiencing de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, you may experience pain while turning your wrist, grasping or making a fist. Adopting a healthy life style also helps you in recovering from most of the ailments.

Although the causes of de Quervain tenosynovitis are unknown, they rely on repetitive wrist or hand movements like gardening, playing golf, lifting a baby, or racket sports that can worsen it. The team of healthcare providers from Complete Medical Wellness help you in relieving pain through de quervain’s tenosynovitis physical therapy.

Symptoms of de quervain’s tenosynovitis.

The symptoms of de Quervain’s tenosynovitis include 

• Pain near the thumb base.
• Swelling near thumb base.
• Difficulty moving the wrist and the thumb while activities involving pinching or grasping.
• A “stop-and-go” or sticking sensation in the thumb while moving it.
• If you leave this condition without treatment, your pain can spread into the forearm or thumb. Moving your wrist and thumb worsens.

When to visit a healthcare provider 

You must consult your healthcare provider; you still experience pain during function. If you are 

• Not using the affected thumb 
• Apply cold to the affected place.
• Pain persists after the consistent use of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Causes of de quervain’s tenosynovitis 

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis affects the thumb side tendons. Tendons are rope-shaped substances that attach muscles to the bones. 

• Chronic overuse, like particular hand motion daily, can irritate the tendon covering, which can swell and thicken. The situation may restrict the tendon movement through the tunnel, joining them to the thumb base. 
• Inflammatory arthritis like rheumatoid arthritis.
• Direct injury to tendon or wrist that cause scars to the tissues restricting tendon movements.
• Fluid retention is like hormonal changes during escort şişli pregnancy.

Major risk factors for de quervain’s tenosynovitis.

The risks factors involving de Quervain’s tenosynovitis include

Age: People 30 to 50 years of age have a higher level of risk of developing de Quervain’s tenosynovitis. The disease can also develop in children.

Sex: Being female. Females are porn to this disease and have a higher risk level than men.

Pregnancy: The condition can be related to pregnancy as you experience hormonal changes during pregnancy.

Baby care: lifting a child frequently involves thumb use, so the chances of developing this condition increase.

The occupation that requires repetitive wrist and hand motions. Jobs or hobbies that require repetitive hand or wrist movements, like badminton, painting etc.

Complications 

Leaving de Quervain’s tenosynovitis untreated makes it difficult to use the hand or wrist. The wrist can lose range of motion.

How does de Quervain’s tenosynovitis physical therapy help

De Quervain’s tenosynovitis is an inflammatory disease that can cause pain at the thumb side of the wrist, the spot where the thumb joins the forearm. 

Strengthening exercises 

Strengthening exercises can fasten your healing process and reduce the symptoms like decreasing inflammation, improving functions and preventing recurrences. 

Learning how to move wrists is important, which may reduce stress. You can observe the improvement within six weeks of the exercise. Strengthening exercises include 

Thumb lift

Try placing your hand (palm facing up) on a flat surface.

Technique 1

• Rest the thumb tip at the fourth finger base.
• Lift the thumb away from the palm, keeping it perpendicular to the forefinger side of the hand. You may feel a slight stretch at the thumb, back and palm.
• Try keeping your thumb extended for almost six seconds, then release.
• Repeat this exercise up to 12 times.

Technique 2

• Try placing your hand (Palm facing up) on a table 
• Lift the thumb and pinky.
• Gently press the thumb tips and pinky together, creating a stretching at the thumb base. 
• Hold your thumb in this position for six seconds.
• Release, and repeat this exercise 8 to 10 times. 

Technique 3

• Hold the hand as you shake hands with someone.
• Rest your hand on the table for support.
• Use the other hand to bend the thumb downwards at the thumb base.
• You will feel stretch in your wrist and at the thumb base.
• Hold your hand for 30 seconds.
• Repeat this exercise 10 times.

Technique 4

• Extend your arm (Palm facing up) 
• Hold a slight weight in hand and lift the wrist upward.
• You will feel stretching at your hand back.
• Lower the wrist down slowly, returning the weight to the original position.
• Repeat this exercise 15 times twice a day.

Opposition stretch 

• Place your hand on a straight surface 
• Join the tips of your thumb and last finger for 5 to 6 seconds
• Release
• Repeat for 10 to 15 times 

Thumb flexion

Place your small finger on a straight surface, and stretch your thumb with the other hand while keeping your hand straight.

Repeat 15 times.

Finkelstein stretch

Place your elbow on the table and stretch your hand with the other hand. Repeat 15 to 20 times.

Wrist flexion 

• Place your elbow (your palm facing up) straight on a surface.
• Hold a small weight and lift it without lifting your elbow.

Wrist extension

• Place a small weight and your elbow on a table or straight surface.
• Lift the weight, and put it back on the table, keeping the elbow on the table.
• Repeat this movement 15 times.

Wrist radial deviation exercise

• Extend the arm palm facing inward.
• Hold a small weight and your thumb on top of it.
• You must balance your forearm on the surface during wrist positioning over the edge for support.
• Lower and lift your arm slowly.
• Repeat the exercise twice.

Eccentric radial deviation exercise for strengthening.

Sit on a chair, place a robe under your foot and stretch it with your hand.

Grip exercise

Hold a ball and gently press it while placing your elbow on the table.

Finger Spring 

Place your elbow on the table, and hold a rubber band on your fingers. Open and close your hand fifteen times.

When to consult your healthcare provider?

 You must perform these strengthening exercises to reduce pain and prevent flare-ups. You can try hot and cold therapy on your wrist or start taking anti-inflammatory drugs.

Besides strengthening exercises and using cold and hot therapy can alleviate pain, if it persists, consult your healthcare provider immediately. You can discuss your condition with your healthcare provider for better healing treatment. Your healthcare provider may refer you for further treatment. If you leave this condition untreated, it may cause permanent damage to the tendon.