Apr 24 - Ballito Umhlanga

Health
secrets for
your hands
Lisa Robarts, a Ballito-based occupational
therapist, specialises in the rehabilitation
of hand injuries, as well as neurological
rehabilitation. We asked her how to avoid
overuse injuries to our hands.
At some point in our lives, we
are all likely to experience achy
thumbs or shooting pains
up our forearms, or funny
sensations in our fingers. These are
sometime due to a once-off injury
like trying to catch a cricket ball onehanded
at the T20, or from falling
over a loose brick on a promenade
run. Sometimes, however, these little
injuries are caused by small, repetitive
movements that are perfectly
harmless on their own, but when
done over and over again they can
cause damage to our hands.
Common symptoms of over-use
injuries may include:
• Pain, usually in the joints of our
hands, often where our thumb joins
the wrist
• Sensations such a shooting pains,
numbness or pins and needles
• Weakness when trying to grip or
pinch items
• Swelling in the hand or fingers
• Unusual clicking or locking of fingers
or thumbs when bending
Common conditions these
symptoms may be due to include:
• De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis: swelling
of the tendons that move our
thumbs. Usually caused by repetitive
thumb movements such as texting
or picking up a child.
• Osteoarthritis: This is most
commonly found where our thumbs
join the wrist and is caused by wear
and tear or a muscle imbalance
resulting in the bones rubbing
together at an unusual angle.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: this causes
numbness, tingling and weakness,
particularly in the thumb, index
and middle finger. Usually caused
by repetitive opening and closing
of the fingers doing activities like
gardening, or spending long periods
typing on a computer.
• Trigger finger or thumb: This is when
the tendons that bend our digits get
inflamed and a small lump develops
on the tendon. This lump gets stuck
in the little tunnels that hold the
tendons against the bones, causing
a clicking or “triggering” of the digit
as it bends and straightens.
The above conditions can affect
people of all ages, male or female,
however, they tend to me more
common in women, especially those
who are very active with their hands.
If you are a new mum or are pregnant,
you might find yourself at a greater
risk for these conditions. When you’re
26 Get It • Ballito•Umdloti•Umhlanga April 2024