Hand pain can disrupt everything from typing and texting to cooking and crafting. At Acomb Chiropractic Clinic, we recognise how vital hand function is for daily life and work. This page explores the anatomy of the hand, common causes of pain, our holistic chiropractic approach, and practical strategies which aim to prevent future issues.
Understanding hand anatomy and pain
Your hand comprises 27 bones—including the carpals (wrist), metacarpals (palm), and phalanges (fingers)—joined by over 30 muscles, numerous tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels. This intricate structure gives you superb dexterity, but it also makes your hand susceptible to a range of stresses and injuries. When any component becomes irritated or injured, you may experience pain, stiffness, numbness, tingling, or weakness. Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment.
Common causes of hand pain
- Repetitive strain injuries (RSI): Jobs or hobbies requiring repetitive motions—such as typing, gaming, knitting, or assembly-line work—can lead to tendon inflammation (tendinitis) or nerve compression (carpal tunnel syndrome). Symptoms often include pain, swelling, and numbness in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
- Traumatic injuries: Falls, direct impacts, or sudden twists can sprain ligaments, fracture bones, or tear cartilage. Acute injuries typically cause immediate pain, bruising, and difficulty moving the hand or gripping objects.
- Arthritis:
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- Osteoarthritis: involves wear-and-tear of cartilage, commonly affecting the base of the thumb and finger joints, leading to stiffness and joint deformity.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: is an autoimmune condition that inflames the synovial lining of multiple hand joints, causing pain, swelling, and progressive joint damage.
- Nerve entrapments: Conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome (median nerve compression), Guyon’s canal syndrome (ulnar nerve), or radial tunnel syndrome can manifest as hand pain, weakness, or sensory changes.
Our approach
Clearly not ALL causes of hand pain are appropriate for hands on physical care; fractures, dislocations, tears, or other severe injuries. But if you are in doubt as to what is going on, or what structure is injured, a chiropractor is often well placed to assess such an injury and establish if it is something we can treat or if you need further investigations to rule out more severe damage.
At our clinic, we deliver personalised, non-invasive care designed to address both symptoms and underlying causes including:
Joint mobilisation and manipulation
Gentle, precise manipulations of the wrist, hand, and sometimes even the cervical spine restore optimal alignment and joint mechanics. By improving joint glide and reducing aberrant stresses, we alleviate pain and enhance function.
Soft tissue therapies
Techniques like trigger-point therapy, and soft tissue stretching break down adhesions, relax tight muscles, and improve circulation around injured tendons and ligaments.
Neuromuscular re-education
We incorporate proprioceptive drills and nerve-gliding exercises to desensitize entrapped nerves, retrain normal movement patterns, and reduce pain associated with repetitive use.
Myofascial dry needling/acupuncture
Can be very helpful for hand pains, especially those associated with arthritis or those with a chronic history.
Rehabilitation and strengthening
Customized exercise programs target wrist flexors, extensors, and intrinsic hand muscles. Progressive resistance bands, grip strengthening, and fine motor drills rebuild endurance and stability.
Ergonomic and postural guidance
We assess your workstation setup, tool handles, sports techniques, and daily habits—then recommend adjustments like keyboard elevation, wrist supports, and optimal lifting mechanics to minimise undue stress on your hands.
Preventative strategies and lifestyle tips
- Ergonomic workstations: Position your keyboard and mouse to keep wrists neutral. Use wrist rests and consider split keyboards.
- Frequent micro-breaks: Pause every 20–30 minutes to shake out tension, perform gentle wrist circles, and stretch fingers.
- Proper technique: Whether lifting weights or using tools, maintain a straight wrist alignment and avoid extreme flexion or extension.
- Strength and flexibility routines: Incorporate wrist curls, reverse curls, and grip exercises into warm-ups and cool-downs to enhance tendon resilience.
- Protective equipment: Wear wrist guards during high-impact activities or supportive braces if you have a history of repetitive strain.
Take the next step toward pain-free hands
At Acomb Chiropractic Clinic, we are committed to helping you if we can. If you are experiencing hand pain or are concerned about recurring discomfort, we encourage you to contact us for a personalised consultation. Our experienced chiropractic team will conduct a thorough assessment, explain our findings and what we think is possible in clear terms. If appropriate, we will develop a personalised treatment plan tailored to your specific condition and goals, aiming to maximise your possible benefit.
Not all complaints are appropriate for chiropractic care: If we think we cannot help your complaint, or you require more investigations, we will do our best to support you in finding you another path forward.