We use our fingers for so many actions each day that it’s easy to take for granted just how simple they make some actions when everything is functioning as it should. Similarly, your world can get turned upside down in a hurry if you suffer an injury to one or more of your fingers. It’s imperative to proactively treat any finger injuries you suffer, and one of the best ways to treat moderate to complex finger injuries is with physical therapy. In today’s blog, we explain why physical therapy can be so helpful when attempting to overcome a finger injury.
Treating Finger Injuries With Physical Therapy
Although they are a small part of your body, there are a number of key parts that help your fingers function properly, and it doesn’t take much for a problem with one area to cause major issues for the entire finger. So whether you have suffered a fractured finger, a torn tendon, a sprained ligament or joint damage, you can help to treat the issue by connecting with a physical therapist. Here are some of the ways they can help you effectively treat your finger injury.
- Range Of Motion Exercises – An injury to part of the finger can make it hard for the entire digit to maintain a normal amount of flexibility. Many people find it hard to fully straighten or completely bend their finger after an injury, and if you don’t do anything, these mobility restrictions can become permanent. A physical therapist can develop some range of motion exercises that gradually helps to strengthen injured tissue and expand your comfortable range of motion so that you eventually return to normal function. We can even set you up with some simple exercises to perform from the comfort of your home to continue your flexibility training when you’re not at the clinic.
- Grip Strengthening – Another common problem after a finger injury is a loss in grip strength. Whether this loss in grip strength is due to muscle weakness or pain, we can help. We can show you a few different exercises that are designed to improve your grip strength and duration so that gripping and carrying objects isn’t an issue down the road.
- Precision Movements – Our fingers are also essential for having ideal fine motor control. Injuries to the fingers can lead to tremors or difficulty performing delicate actions, like picking up a pencil, threading a needle or tying your shoes. Again, a physical therapist can help to strengthen muscles or soft tissues that may be impacting your ability to perform these motions, and we can set you up with some practice exercises so that you can feel comfortable performing the motion when the time comes.
- Desensitivity Training – Sometimes an injury to a finger can lead to nerve damage, which can cause sensitivity issues in the finger. Touching normal surfaces can be uncomfortable if the finger has become hypersensitive due to trauma. A physical therapist can help you calm some of these sensory issues through a sensory training program. Touching certain objects during this training may be uncomfortable at first, but eventually you will notice some desensitization and a decrease in discomfort. This type of training is also helpful in patients who experience more severe digital trauma, like a full or partial amputation of a finger, as this certainly disrupts nerves in the area.
A finger injury can seem like a minor injury, but we rely on our fingers for countless actions each day, so don’t let all these motions become painful because you didn’t treat your finger injury in a timely manner. Instead, connect with a physical therapy team like OrthoRehab Specialists and restore your finger to normal function. For more information, or for answers to questions you have about a different injury, give the team at OrthoRehab Specialists a call today at (612) 339-2041.