How Physical Therapy Helps Relieve Arthritic Hand Pain
June 2025 Newsletter
Do you struggle with stiff, aching fingers? Is it difficult for you to pick up small objects, such as a pen or a toothbrush? Arthritis of the hands is relatively common, but that doesn’t make it any easier to live with. Fortunately, physical therapy at H2Orthopedic can help you find relief.
Arthritis is an umbrella term for over 100 conditions, all of which cause inflammation, pain, and restricted joint mobility. The two most common types of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, can both affect the hands.
While pain is never fun, hand pain can feel particularly debilitating. We use our hands constantly throughout the day. Think about the day-to-day hand-related activities you take for granted: picking up a fork, jotting down a note to yourself, scrolling through your phone. With hand arthritis, these tasks and more start to feel impossible.
Fortunately, physical therapy does offer several solutions for relieving arthritis-related hand pain. We’ll work with you to develop a customized treatment program that alleviates your pain, improves your mobility, and helps you do those small daily tasks throughout the day.
Call H2Orthopedic today to schedule your initial consultation!
OA vs RA: Symptoms and Causes
The most common type of arthritis in the United States is osteoarthritis (OA), which occurs when a joint’s cartilage and bone tissue degenerate due to aging, injury, or other factors. While we frequently hear about hip and knee osteoarthritis, hand OA is also common, especially as people get older.
Osteoarthritis symptoms typically onset gradually and include the following:
- Hand pain that worsens with use. At first, the pain will come and go; eventually, it will become constant and more intense.
- Stiffness and restricted range of motion that, again, will worsen over time
- Grinding, clicking, or cracking noises in the hand joints
- Swelling and tenderness
- Weakened grip
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the second most common form of arthritis in the United States. It’s an autoimmune disorder that causes your body’s immune system to attack your joints and is most likely to affect your hands, wrists, or knees.
Symptoms will follow a pattern in which they get worse (flares) or better (remission). Some symptoms are similar to OA, such as the following:
- Pain, usually in more than one joint
- Stiffness, tenderness, and swelling, usually in more than one joint
- Weakened grip
- Symptoms occur on both sides of the body (i.e., both hands)
However, RA often has additional symptoms unrelated to your joints, such as the following:
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Fever
How Physical Therapy Can Help You Find Hand Pain Relief
Neither osteoarthritis nor rheumatoid arthritis have a cure. In both cases, you’ll need to focus on managing your symptoms: reducing pain, improving mobility, and restoring joint function. If you have rheumatoid arthritis, it’s also important to work with a physician to put the disease into remission, as, if left untreated, it can have effects throughout your body.
Our team of physical therapists will work with you to create a customized treatment plan focused on providing hand pain relief. While we tailor every program to the patient, here’s what you can expect:
Manual therapy refers to a set of hands-on, drug-free techniques for managing pain and inflammation while working to improve mobility. We might mobilize the small joints in your hand to improve the range of motion or gently manipulate soft tissue to reduce pain.
Hand exercises are crucial in managing arthritis. While manual therapy helps with initial pain management, regularly moving the joint can impact your pain levels long-term. We’ll show you tailored exercises you can do in our clinic and at home.
Braces and splints work to mobilize your hand and/or wrist, relieving pressure on your joints. They provide stability to your hands and help minimize further joint damage.
Finally, we’ll help you develop lifestyle strategies and modifications that can help reduce your symptoms by adjusting the specific movements that worsen your pain or restriction.
Wave Goodbye to Arthritic Hand Pain Today!
At H2Orthopedic, we know how difficult it can be to live with hand arthritis. Fortunately, our team of dedicated physical therapists can provide you with the tools you need to successfully manage your condition.
Ready to get started? Call our clinic to set up your first appointment!
Our Patients Get Great Results
“For the last 7 or 8 years, like many others getting on in years, I’ve found myself aging not quite as gracefully as I’d hoped for, primarily due to now inoperable back problems. After several years of physical therapy at other Orange County physical therapy locations, my pain management doctor suggested giving H20rthopedic a try. Looking over their website, the aquatic aspect looked especially interesting in that having had aquatic therapy in the past, it kept me mobile but had no negative effect physically as the pressure on my spine was kept at a minimum. Unfortunately, my previous aquatic therapy sessions took place in what could best be described as a classroom like pool setting with, at times, 8 to 10 in attendance. Not so at H2Orthopedic in that each aqua therapy session is done one on one in a HEATED pool, designed specifically for physical therapy, thus making your session something to look forward to rather than dread. I’ve now been using them for several months and the staff is outstanding managed by Stefan and Larry. Michelle and Carissa, the main aquatic staff are a delight to work with, but just as important, they do push and encourage you but never to the point of unnecessary pain. By the way, no one asked me to give this glowing review. Rather, I just want to give credit where credit is due.”
—Will J.
Suffering from Hand Arthritis? Mobility is Key
No one likes experiencing pain. Unfortunately, persistent pain is often a reality for people living with hand arthritis – and it causes many to avoid using their hands at all. Unfortunately, avoiding movement only leads to more pain in the long term.
For that reason, it’s essential that people with hand arthritis spend time working on the mobility of the hands, fingers, and wrists, as that can ultimately help reduce your pain. The experts at H2Orthopedic can show you simple strategies to improve your mobility, all of which you can do at home.
Three Approaches for Improving Hand Mobility
1. Manual Therapy
We’ll show you how to perform certain manual techniques that can help minimize pain from arthritis, such as gently mobilizing each joint in your hand or self-massaging your hand’s soft tissue.
2. Hand Exercises
Specialized hand exercises will help improve your hand’s strength, range of motion, and overall function. Here are a few example exercises so you know what to expect:
- Stretch your hand out, then squeeze it into a fist
- Use your fingers to make an “O” shape
- Bend your fingers toward your palm one at a time
3. Equipment-Based Exercises
Several pieces of equipment can help take your arthritis relief to the next level! Dedicated hand grip strengtheners, stress balls, and even therapy putty (think Silly Putty – let your inner child free!) can all help you improve your hand mobility in fun, challenging ways.
Ready to get started with a home-based mobility program of your own?
Call us to schedule an appointment today!
Feel Better by Eating Better!
Sheet-Pan Chipotle-Lime Shrimp Bake
Looking for a flavorful, no-fuss dinner packed with zesty spice and wholesome ingredients? This Sheet-Pan Chipotle-Lime Shrimp Bake is the perfect weeknight meal! Roasted baby red potatoes create a hearty base, while asparagus, Broccolini, and succulent shrimp are infused with a smoky chipotle-lime butter for a deliciously bold kick.
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 pounds baby red potatoes, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, divided
- 3 medium limes
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
- 1/2 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed
- 1/2 pound Broccolini or broccoli, cut into small florets
- 1 pound uncooked shrimp (16-20 per pound), peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
Preheat oven to 400°. Place potatoes in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan; drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon sea salt; stir to combine. Bake for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, squeeze 1/3 cup juice from limes, reserving fruit. Combine the lime juice, melted butter, chipotle and remaining 1/2 teaspoon sea salt.
Remove pan from the oven; stir potatoes. Arrange asparagus, Broccolini, shrimp and reserved limes on top of potatoes. Pour lime juice mixture over vegetables and shrimp.
Bake until shrimp turn pink and vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes longer. Sprinkle with minced fresh cilantro.
www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/sheet-pan-chipotle-lime-shrimp-bake/
Exercise of the Month
AROM Hand/Finger Tendon Glide
Start with your fingers straight. Make a hook fist, and return to a straight hand. Make a full fist, then return to a straight hand. Make a straight fist, and return to a straight hand. Repeat for 3 sets of 20 reps on both hands.
Meet Our Team
Erika J.
PTA
Carissa V.
PTA
Michele B.
PTA
Nicki B.
Practice Manager
Wyatt W.
PT, DPT
Larry L.
PT, Co-Owner
Amy L.
MBA, LMT, Certified Pilates Instructor, Co-Owner
Stefan G.
PT, DPT, CILet’s Get You Better ASAP!
Contact us if you feel that your physical health or an old injury is holding you back from being active. Working with our physical therapists at H2Orthopedic can help you achieve improved balance and a healthy lifestyle.
