hand and wrist
The Hidden Risks of a Scaphoid Fracture: How To Avoid Long-Term Complications
Imagine you’re skiing, playing a quick pick-up game, or simply taking a walk when you suddenly catch an edge or trip and start to fall. Instinctively, you reach out to catch yourself, landing hard on your outstretched hand. Hours later, your wrist is swollen and aching. Even if your symptoms don’t seem that serious, you […]
Why Pronation vs Supination Matters to Your Health
Pronation vs. supination may be concepts you typically don’t often consider, but the effects of each can matter to your long-term health. While these terms can be used to describe the orientation of your arms, wrists, and hands, they are most commonly used regarding your feet. For many people, the degree to which their feet […]
Lyme Arthritis
Lyme arthritis is a type of joint inflammation that results from the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) receives about 30,000 reports of Lyme disease each year, and they estimate an additional 270,000 cases go unreported. Of those who know they have Lyme disease, about 25 percent of them will […]
Extensor Tendon Tear
Tendons connect muscles to bones to help them move. Extensor tendons straighten joints, while flexor tendons help them bend. When people suffer an extensor tendon tear in their hand, they cannot fully straighten the affected finger(s) or wrist. Common Extensor Tendon Tear Tendons are strong, thick bands of fibrous tissue that connect muscles to bones. […]
Flexor Tendon Tear
The flexor tendons of the hand and wrist are cord-like bands that connect the bones of the fingers and thumb to the muscles in the forearm. These strong and smooth tendons flex or bend your fingers and thumbs as you pick up or grip something. Flexor tendons are like rubber bands. A complete flexor tendon […]
Dupuytren’s Contracture: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments
It’s easy to take simple, day-to-day maneuvers for granted — putting on gloves, opening jars, or turning a doorknob. Easy, that is, until you start to lose those abilities. If you have a condition called Dupuytren’s contracture, simply laying your hand flat on a table or putting it into your pocket may eventually prove impossible. […]
Wrist Tendonitis: Anatomy, Symptoms, Causes & Treatments
The wrist is a complex joint that not only moves the hand back and forth and side to side but also provides strength and flexibility to the hand and transfers forces from the arm to the hand (and vice versa). Made up of multiple bones, smaller joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels, the wrist […]
Are brachial plexus injuries serious?
The not-so-satisfying short answer: It depends. Like any other orthopedic injury, the seriousness of a brachial plexus injury depends on its cause, severity and treatment options. What is the brachial plexus? The brachial plexus is a network of five intertwined nerves that stretch from the neck, through the upper chest and into the armpit. This bundle of […]
What is an orthopedic sports medicine doctor?
Whether you’re an athlete, a weekend warrior or simply lead an active lifestyle, you will almost certainly suffer from an orthopedic injury at one point or another. A study in the Journal of Athletic Training found that while male athletes had a higher rate of acute injuries, female athletes see a higher rate of overuse […]
All About Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common nerve disorders in the United States, affecting 4 to 10 million Americans every year. In general, carpal tunnel is more prolific in the middle-aged and older population and affects women up to three times more often than men. If you think you’re suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome, the […]