Photo By Staff Sgt. Ty Stafford | Genlty rotate the wrist clockwise and counter clockwise to help strengthen the wrist...... read more read more
Hands are one of the most important parts of the human anatomy. And with any part of our body we must use preventive measures to keep them healthy and functioning.
At Logistical Support Area Anaconda, Capt. Ramesh Bersaurd, an occupational therapist at the 332nd Air Force Theater Hospital, specializes in hands, wrist and elbow pain.
"Most of the diagnoses are finger fractures. We see a lot of finger fractures. Joint dislocations, fingers strains and sprains and a lot of jammed fingers from football or basketball injures," he said.
Other injuries being treated at the hospital include trauma or injury to the wrist that cause swelling, such as sprain or fracture, Bersaurd said.
"We see a lot of fractures with the Bradley mechanics because of heavy objects smashing down on the fingers when they are working," he said.
"We've also seen a few scaphoid (wrist) fractures at the hospital, mainly from people falling down," he said. Scaphoid fractures are common among 18 to 30 year olds.
Treatment for fractures is pretty straightforward, Bersaurd said.
"We will cast or splint the area and have the Soldier rest the affected area for four to six weeks," he said.
Other than fractures and sprains, tennis and golfer's elbow are common injuries Bersaurd sees at the hospital.
Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is a degenerative condition of the tendon fibers that attach on the epicondyle on the outside lateral side of the elbow. The tendons involved are responsible for anchoring the muscles that extend or lift the wrist and hand.
Patients with tennis elbow often complain of burning pain on the outside part of the elbow. In most cases, the pain starts slowly and can gradually become worse over a period of weeks or months.
The pain can also be made worse by pressing on the outside part of the elbow or by gripping or lifting objects. In more severe cases, pain can occur with a simple motion of the elbow joint. Pain can also radiate to the forearm.
Tennis elbow affects as many as half of all athletes in racquet sports. However, most patients with tennis elbow are not active in racquet sports.
"Tennis elbow is not necessarily from overuse, but you can see it if a person bangs an elbow very hard against an object from a direct trauma," Bersaurd said.
Golfer's elbow or medial epicondyle is an injury to the funny bone on the inside of the elbow. The muscles that bend the wrist down start at this point. Forceful and repeated bending of the wrist and fingers cause tiny ruptures of the muscle and tendon to this area.
Golfer's elbow gets its name because, in the golf swing, the flexor muscles and tendons must tighten to hit the ball. Golfing is only one of the causes of this type of pain.
Symptoms include tenderness and pain at the medial epicondyle, made worse by bending (flexing) the wrist.
"Splinting and stabilizing the elbow is the first means of treatment," Bersaurd said.
Braces and wrist splints can reduce symptoms by immobilizing the muscles and tendons.
Pain relief is the main goal in the first phase of treatment. Stop any activities that cause symptoms.
"We will have the patient apply ice to the elbow and take an anti-inflammatory medication like Advil for pain relief," Bersaurd said.
After the pain is relieved, the next phase of treatment starts. Modifying activities can help make sure that symptoms don't come back. Physical therapy may include stretching and range of motion exercises and gradual strengthening of the affected muscles and tendons.
Isometric exercises will be used to help maintain muscle mass without stressing tissue.
After the injury has healed sufficiently, progressive resistive exercises can increase endurance and strength.
To avoid these problems, Bersaurd recommends improving your overall muscle condition and limit heavy pushing, pulling or grasping when possible.
As always, if you have extremity pain, visit a TMC to help determine the severity of the problem.
| Date Taken: | 01.19.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 01.19.2006 10:25 |
| Story ID: | 5147 |
| Location: |
| Web Views: | 117 |
| Downloads: | 22 |
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