Most common hand conditions
The upper limbs are made up of many joints, muscles, tendons and nerves. Any of these structures can be responsible for pain if inflammatory, degenerative or overload changes occur in them.
Neuropathies and polyneuropathies
Neuropathies is the collective name for diseases whose main determinant is damage to the peripheral nerves. This can occur, for example, as a result of various injuries and traumas, but also as a consequence of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, as well as resulting from alcoholism.
Neuropathies in the upper limbs most commonly affect the radial, ulnar and median nerve. People suffering from neuropathy experience severe pain, numbness and tingling, and have sensory disturbances.
Depending on whether damage affects a single peripheral nerve or multiple nerves, neuropathies can be divided into mononeuropathies and polyneuropathies.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
One of the most common neuropathies is carpal tunnel syndrome, which largely affects people who often perform the same repetitive movements. This condition occurs, for example, in people who work at a computer, on a conveyor belt in a factory, seamstresses, construction workers, but also in athletes.
The risk of carpal tunnel syndrome is higher in people with rheumatoid arthritis, hand osteoarthritis and diabetes.
People suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome experience symptoms such as tingling, aching, burning pain in the wrist, as well as pain in the first four fingers. These symptoms are caused by compression of the median nerve that runs through the wrist. The condition can lead to sensory disturbances and even atrophy of the muscles of the knuckle.
Osteoarthritis (Degenerative joint disease)
Osteoarthritis is most common in people over 40, and genetics, i.e. a family predisposition, is an important factor. However, it is worth noting that osteoarthritis can occur at a younger age, and people who are involved in sports or certain physical activities are particularly vulnerable, as the changes can occur as a result of numerous micro-traumas. This is called post-traumatic osteoarthritis.
The most common complaints are pain and stiffness, which increase during movement and decrease when the joints are at rest. However, in the case of an exacerbation of the disease, pain and stiffness can also occur when the limb is not moved, making it very difficult for patients to function and even leading to insomnia caused by the complaints.
Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory disorder, so the severity of thecondition may also manifest as swelling and redness. Doctors have not yet discovered a way to completely prevent osteoarthritis, but early detection can reduce pain and slow down the degenerative process, for example through the use of vibration therapy.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is another of the diseases that affects the upper limbs, but – unlike the previously described diseases – it affects the skeletal system. Patients experience a gradual loss of bone mass, resulting in bones that are increasingly fragile and prone to injury and fracture.
The risk of developing the disease not only increases with age, but also increases in patients with certain diseases such as cystic fibrosis, diabetes or kidney stones. Risk factors also include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, vitamin D deficiencies and an unhealthy sedentary lifestyle.
In the first stage, the disease may be asymptomatic, but in subsequent stages, fractures become more frequent, which in turn cause recurrent pain.
Inflammatory joint diseases
A common cause of pain in the upper limb joints is inflammatory joint disease, with rheumatoid arthritis, or RA for short, being at the forefront. It is a chronic autoimmune disease and, although it is primarily associated with the elderly, it can also affect younger people and, in a few cases, even children.
RA manifests itself as a non-specific, symmetrical inflammation of the joints, and its causes are not entirely clear, although scientists distinguish between genetic, environmental (such as poor diet, stress, smoking), as well as immunological and bacterial and viral factors.
Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis in the early stages of the disease is not easy, as it does not always make itself known during this period. Initial symptoms include weakness, excessive sweating and decreased appetite and only half of the patients develop pain or swelling in the joint.
In the later stages of the disease , joint cartilage and bone epiphyses degenerate and patients often complain of morning stiffness. RA can lead to tendonitis, muscle atrophy, the formation of rheumatoid nodules and even lung fibrosis or changes in other internal organs.
Treatment of hand conditions
The treatment of conditions affecting the hands depends primarily on the nature of the complaint, the triggers and the severity of the condition. It is important not to ignore pain and swelling, as is often the case in old age, for example, but to see a doctor as soon as possible, who will order the necessary tests and be able to make a proper diagnosis.
However, whatever the cause of the pain, it is important to remember not to overload the painful limb and to refrain from activities that exacerbate the symptoms. If necessary, anti-inflammatories or analgesics can be used and warm or cold compresses can be applied, but any such measures should also be consulted with a doctor.
In addition to specific medication and, in advanced stages of the disease, even surgical treatment, physiotherapy has an extremely important function in the treatment of many upper limb conditions. Although it may be associated only with physical exercise, it actually encompasses many other methods that aim to facilitate patients’ daily functioning.
In addition to physical exercises, the physiotherapist can also offer a variety of therapeutic massages, laser or ultrasound therapy, cryotherapy or heat therapy to people suffering from hand disorders. Vibration therapy, which is achieving very good results, is becoming increasingly popular and helps patients with many of the most common upper limb conditions, such as RA, osteoporosis or carpal tunnel syndrome.
The use of vibrotherapy in the treatment of hand disorders
For all the conditions described here, specialist diagnosis and the earliest possible implementation of appropriate methods of treatment or prevention of further development of the disease are crucial. This principle also applies to vibrotherapy – the sooner vibrotherapy is started, the better and longer-lasting the effects will be.
Among the many vibration therapy modules, the Hands Module working together with the Back Module is particularly helpful for patients suffering from upper limb problems. These were developed by Vitberg of Nowy Sącz.
The Hands module uses vibration in the 10-40 Hz band, which has an analgesic effect, improves blood circulation, increases the range of mobility of individual joints, strengthens muscles and helps regenerate torn tendons.
Vibrotherapy is increasingly being recommended by doctors as a therapy to improve the function of people suffering from neuropathies and polyneuropathies, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and various sports or work-related injuries.
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