The Orthopedic Growing Pains of Parenting
Have you ever paid attention to the amount of times you lift or handle your newborn child or toddler throughout the day? As a parent of two growing children under the age of two, I could not help but notice (and feel the effects of) the physical demands of my kids. The bulky-but-useful changing stations, running strollers, ergo-carriers, standing towers, and bassinets all require lifting and/or carrying the child while assisting them into some (not always desired but necessary) positions. You do what you must as parents, but how exactly are you getting the job done and at what orthopedic cost? Here is a list of some common overuse injuries as well as a few tips that may prevent them with just a few seconds of extra thought and planning!
Will Cracking Your Knuckles Cause Arthritis?
Knuckle cracking or popping is a habit that many people develop, despite being told it could cause arthritis or harm, but is that really accurate? Long story short, no it does not cause damage in a healthy person. Many start cracking their knuckles as a nervous habit, tick, restlessness, or they’ve noticed the looser feeling in their joints.
How to Fall Correctly to Prevent Hand Injuries
As a physical therapist and hand therapist, one of the biggest concerns I hear from my patients is that they are worried they are going to fall and hurt themselves. It is not uncommon for a therapist to be treating injuries that resulted from a fall. The upper extremity (shoulder through the fingers) is a common place for injuries to occur following a fall as many will use their hands to brace their fall in order to protect their face or head. This type of fall is called a F.O.O.S.H or a fall on an outstretched hand. This blog will briefly look into common injuries of the upper extremity with a fall and will talk about ways to prevent these injuries.
Why Are My Hands Always Cold?
It’s normal to have cold hands in cool weather, as the fingers and hands tend to be exposed. But if your hands are always cold? This could be a sign of an underlying medical condition. In this blog, we’ll discuss signs as well as treatment options if you have cold hand disease, otherwise known as Raynaud’s disease/syndrome.
Power Saws to Paint Brushes: Hand Tool Injuries & Prevention Tips
Co-Author: Werokina Noyszewski, OTS
Pity the tool! Tough as nails, even Mr. T could learn a thing or two about hand tool injuries. As the weather turns for the better, home renovations continue to be top of mind for many folks. From endless hours watching home renovation television shows, to scrolling through your favorite social networks for inspiration, we all have the desire for DIY projects to improve our space. No matter what your artisan experience is, our expert Hand Therapists have provided tips to keep you safe while working with your hands.
6 Tips to Prepare for an Upcoming Hand or Arm Surgery
Have you ever broken your wrist slipping on ice or possibly jammed a finger playing sports? Maybe you have cut yourself while cooking an amazing meal. Unfortunately these things happen and in some cases you may require surgery to fix it. Having surgery on your hand or upper extremity can be very overwhelming and nerve wracking, however there are things that you can do to prepare yourself to make the recovery process easier. Below is a list of tips and tricks to keep in mind in the days before your surgery:
Guide to Gardening: 4 Tips to Conquer the Earth Pain-Free
Research shows that gardeners have decreased anxiety, depression, and body mass index (a measure of body fat percentage calculated by dividing one’s weight by height). Gardening, when done in community also promotes societal well-being. Many garden for yard maintenance, to grow food, or just for enjoyment. Although gardening is rewarding and good for your health, gardeners should still keep a few things in mind before conquering the earth. It is important to take precautions to protect your back, knees and arms from repetitive stress and injury. Here are just a few considerations to keep in mind.
What’s The Difference between Osteo and Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Arthritis is a common condition of the joints, which leads to pain, stiffness, swelling, and inflammation due to changing joint surfaces. According to the CDC, 23% of adults have arthritis, and nearly half of those are limited in their activity due to arthritis. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this blog we’ll discuss the difference between these two forms of arthritis as well as recommendations for treatment options.
