Hand Conditions and Physiotherapy

Hand Conditions and Physiotherapy

The hand is a complex anatomical structure, essential to daily function, and can be affected by a wide range of conditions — traumatic, inflammatory, neurological, or degenerative in origin. Among the most common are:

• Fractures of the hand bones (metacarpals, phalanges)

• Finger sprains and dislocations

• Tendinopathies (such as De Quervain’s tenosynovitis or flexor/extensor tendinitis)

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

• Dupuytren’s disease

• Nerve compressions (ulnar nerve, radial nerve)

• Post-surgical sequelae (stiffness, adhesions, pain)

Principles of Rehabilitation

Hand rehabilitation aims to restore mobility, strength, function, and sensation. It is based on several core principles:

• Reducing pain and inflammation during the acute phase (cryotherapy, electrotherapy, gentle mobilization)

• Preventing joint stiffness through early controlled mobilization

• Regaining range of motion through progressive active and passive exercises

• Specific strengthening of the flexors, extensors, and intrinsic hand muscles

• Proprioception and fine motor coordination training

• Functional reintegration (daily tasks, work, leisure)

Rehabilitation Exercises

Depending on the condition and phase of recovery, exercises may include:

• Active/assisted mobilization of fingers, wrist, and thumb

• Exercises using elastic bands or soft balls to improve grip strength

• Thumb-to-finger opposition tasks to improve dexterity

• Static and dynamic pinch exercises to strengthen intrinsic muscles

• Functional tasks (buttoning, object manipulation, writing)

• Vibratory techniques (for pain relief, microvascular stimulation, etc.)

Stretching

Stretching is essential to prevent or treat tendon and muscle contractures:

• Stretching of finger and wrist flexors (progressive extension using a support surface or the other hand)

• Stretching of the extensors (wrist flexion with fingers extended)

• Specific stretching of the abductor pollicis brevis in cases of De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

• Gentle passive stretching, always progressive and pain-free