Hand, wrist and elbow pain can affect anyone – regardless of age. Even if you’re young and active, chances are you may still experience pain associated with your daily activities. Learn how Anthony discovered chiropractic care as the solution to his hand, wrist and elbow pain.
As an active 20-something with a busy life, Anthony commutes to and from work but does what he can to stay in shape. He goes to the gym several times a week and even tries out a new style of exercise every other month to vary his routine.
These days he’s been working from home and trying to get back into an exercise routine. Most of the online exercises he’s been squeezing into his lunch hours are based heavily on plank-style positions, which are hard on his hands and wrists.
Unfortunately, less than a month into his new exercise style, his right hand, wrist and elbow started to develop pain during his workout. The pain lingered through the day while he typed away on his computer.
Reaching Out to a Local Chiropractor
Anthony thought his new pains might be connected to his workouts. So soon after, he reached out to a local chiropractor and had a productive virtual call to see if he could help. He then visited the clinic, so his chiropractor could properly assess and diagnose his wrist injury. As part of this process, Anthony’s chiropractor asked him about his medical history and lifestyle.
During the conversation about a recommended care plan that followed, Anthony was relieved to learn that his diagnosed condition didn’t require any further imaging such as X-rays or ultrasounds and could be treated without pain medication.
Treating and Strengthening the Hand, Wrist and Elbow
Anthony’s chiropractor gave him hands-on manual care and prescribed therapeutic exercises to help him build his wrist’s strength and capacity.
To reduce further risk of injury, his chiropractor recommended a few modifications to Anthony’s current exercise program. Since push-ups and hand planks require a great deal of extension at the wrist, this pressure had to be modified. Initially, his chiropractor demonstrated the modified planks on forearms, isometric rehab strengthening, and ball squeezes with the affected hand so Anthony could complete specific therapeutic exercises at home.
During the course of treatment, his chiropractor also recommended a few ergonomic changes to Anthony’s computer setup. These changes helped offload his wrist during his recovery phase and reduced the stress on his joints. For example, he showed him how to keep neutral wrist positions during typing – which are key in reducing repetitive strain and sprain injuries. Within a couple of weeks, Anthony noticed his hand, wrist and elbow pain had decreased significantly. He was also able to gradually add in more at home workouts with little to no pain at all!
With the summer season around the corner, Anthony planned to get back into cycling. However, he was wary about how his wrist injury may affect his plan over the long term. With the help of his chiropractor and a few check-in appointments, Anthony felt more confident and ready for the cycling season.
Chiropractic Care Can Help You Too
Does Anthony’s story sound familiar to you? If so, consider contacting a chiropractor.
It may be helpful to note that chiropractors are also skilled at addressing other common hand, wrist, and elbow conditions such as:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tennis elbow (Lateral epicondylitis)
- Golfer’s elbow (Medial epicondylitis)
- Nerve entrapments
- De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
A chiropractor is qualified to assess and diagnose your joints’ conditions. Then they’ll provide you with a treatment plan, which will likely include manual therapy and modified exercise routines to help you stay active with strength and confidence.