Hands Overuse Syndrome
With the increase in the use of cellphones and computers, it is common to ask ourselves if this will affect could affect our hands at some point and the answer is: yes, it could. Besides office work, there are so many manual jobs that involve repetitive fingers or hands motions that could damage them. Activities such as typing, playing an instrument, driving, using a beaker, sewing, and others require the constant repetition of movements with our hands. These repeated actions could damage the hands’ tissues causing a condition known as a hands overuse syndrome. This is also a very common condition in athletes and in people who practice sports regularly.
There are many factors related to hand overuse, but the main cause of this syndrome includes carrying repeated motions with the hands, handling heavyweight, or stressing the hands too much for long periods. The symptoms of overuse syndrome include a sensation of tingling, pain, stiffness, numbness, swelling, burning sensation, and depending on the severity or stage of this condition, difficulty to move fingers and hands as normal.
Overuse is directly related to overworking the joints, other conditions in the hand can cause similar symptoms. Some examples of related conditions are carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and even some injuries such as sprains, fractures or dislocation can have similar symptoms. Therefore, it is important to check with a doctor to discard that the symptoms are caused by any other underlying factors.
To make a precise diagnose, the doctor could ask to run some tests such as MRI scans, X-rays, or a neurophysiological diagnostic test. After discarding any other possible causes and diagnosing hands overuse syndrome, treatment should be started as soon as possible.
To treat this condition, first, it is necessary to identify which specific factors are causing it, hence, which direct occupational risks there are in the patient’s routine to make the necessary adjustments at work. It is also required that the patient takes some rest from this activity during their recovery. At an initial stage, the common procedure includes putting the hand on ice and taking medicine to reduce the swelling. Also, pain reliever pills or topical gels can be helpful at this stage. Some hot and cold therapy sessions might also be advised, this treatment consists of the alternation of hot water and a cold-water bath for the affected area. The doctor could recommend some exercises and in some cases, a splint might be necessary.
Hands overuse syndrome can cause other issues if it is left untreated or if it is not treated appropriately. Some examples of derivate disorders are tendonitis, in which the constant stress of the hands can irritate and cause inflammation of the tendons in this area. Or carpal tunnel syndrome where the constant compression on arm nerves can create discomfort and cause a gradual loss of motion.
Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201 Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119