Joint Protection Strategies
Since April is Occupational Therapy Month, our OT’s have put together a list of modifications that can help to decrease forces on hands and other joints. This chart has modifications that many people encounter daily. These adaptations will allow you to use less force which will avoid pain, prevent arthritic changes, and help to prevent deforming forces and injury.
Textbooks to Tablets: How to Prevent Upper Body Pain in an Increasingly Digital Learning Environment
Our digital world is ever expanding, and one may find themselves required to spend more time using technology for work, learning, and leisure. If this applies to you or your family members, it is important to be aware of how we interact to the digital world to prevent injuries that can result from prolonged positions which compromise good posture and ergonomics, resulting in pain.
Q and A with an Occupational Therapist
During Occupational Therapy Month, we sat down with OT health expert Erik Krol to discuss what is Occupational Therapy and what you can expect in regard to your recovery.
How Burns Benefit from Hand Therapy
At some point in life, nearly everyone will experience a burn. It may occur when absentmindedly handling hot pots and pans in the kitchen, taking a hot bowl out of the microwave, or tasting hot coffee. Fortunately, many of these burns are minor: they may cause redness to the skin, but they do not blister. That type of burn is a first-degree burn. They are often treated with pain-relievers and first-aid measures.
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.
The Importance of Physical/Occupational Therapy after a Crush Injury
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.
What is Skier’s Thumb?
The stability of the human hand relies on the ligaments to stabilize both the thumb and fingers. An injury to these structures can greatly affect the ability to grip, write and impair the functional use of the hand for everyday tasks such as fastening clothing, opening containers and performing daily tasks at home, work or for leisure. An injury to the ligament between the two bones on the interior side of the thumb is often referred to as Skier’s thumb. The term Skier’s thumb originates in the event a skier tries to brace from a fall and lands on an outstretched hand and thumb, while holding on to a ski pole. This causes the thumb to bend sideways, causing a sprain or even a tear in the Ulnar Collateral Ligament, or UCL of the thumb.
4 Tips for Preventing Mommy’s Thumb Pain
As Mother’s Day approaches, we extend a big thanks to all mothers. Many of these mothers have overcome sleepless nights, chronic exhaustion, worry, heartbreak when a child is sick or ill, or endless chauffeur and carpool duties – all while trying to raise healthy, well-adjusted and kind children.