Athletico Health Resources

Rock climbers face many types of injuries to their bodies, be it from falling rock, or one’s worst fear, a trauma from a fall event. What many don’t realize is the risk to the entire body, especially the hands. Climbers can experience overuse when training, particularly when training indoors, repeating the same routes multiple times. This can lead to shoulder and elbow tendonitis. However, most climbers don’t fear these types of injuries, but rather finger injuries. Even though rock climbing is a full body exercise, fingers make the most contact with rocks or grips, thus taking more stress than other body parts.

(more…)

The hand is an essential component in almost every aspect of our daily lives. Hands are required in common tasks like driving, cooking, dressing, eating, and grooming. Hand injuries are amongst the most common injuries in the US. In fact, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the hand is the second most common body part to be injured at work. Participation in hand therapy following a hand injury is proven to help patients recover. According to recent studies, patients who attended hand therapy following a wrist fracture achieved significantly greater increases in wrist range of motion and grip strength after six weeks compared to patients who received no therapy. In this blog we will be discussing the importance of participation in hand therapy following a hand injury or surgery.

(more…)

Gymnastics is a unique sport where athletes spend a large amount of time on their hands. Handstands, tumbling, rings, and bars require the athlete to place their entire body weight through the arms and into the hands. Other sports do not place these heavy demands on the upper extremity. When tumbling, the athlete puts not only their entire body weight through the hands but can have up to 16 times their body weight in force going across the wrist². No wonder 80% of gymnasts will experience wrist pain at some point in their career!⁶ In a study comparing injuries in male and female collegiate gymnasts, men suffered more hand and wrist injuries than their female counterparts¹. We will be taking a closer look at the types of hand and wrist injuries both male and female gymnasts may experience and how to treat or prevent these injuries.

(more…)

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.

(more…)

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.

(more…)

Accidents can happen in a matter of seconds and can be devastating. Worker’s compensation accidents are no different. However, a crush injury is one of the more traumatic worker’s compensation accidents. A crush injury occurs when force or pressure is put on a body part. This type of injury most often happens when a part of the body is squeezed between two heavy objects.

(more…)

Co-author: Amy Frederickson

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to show gratitude and enjoy the company of family and friends. This holiday season, our expert Hand Therapists are talking through some common hand-related injuries and providing tips to keep you safe while cooking and celebrating Thanksgiving.

(more…)

The average American spends more than four hours on their mobile devices texting, checking email, playing games and browsing social media. In addition, many spend a large portion of the work day typing and mousing on the computer.^1,2 The trouble with the amount of time spent on these devices is that they are not ergonomically designed for heavy, repetitive use. Unfortunately, many people don’t become aware of this until they experience pain in their hands and thumbs.

(more…)