Hand therapy can be a very effective treatment for women experiencing any pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in their hands, wrists, or fingers.  Unfortunately, hand and wrist pain is very common in pregnancy and postpartum due to swelling and overuse of the hands and wrists with childcare activities. 

 

To alleviate your symptoms your hand therapist may perform a combination of manual techniques, kinesiotaping, graston technique, over the counter or custom thermoplastic orthotic fittings, therapeutic exercises, and will provide you with a home exercise program to manage your symptoms on your own. 

 

 

Some common hand conditions that affect pregnant & new moms include:

• Carpal tunnel

• Mommy thumb (DeQuervain's Syndrome)

• Pain, tingling, weakness and numbness in the hand, wrist or fingers

 

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Carpal tunnel is a common condition that can start in the second and third trimester of pregnancy and can continue postpartum. It is caused by a build up of fluid in the tissues that causes pressure on the median nerve. This can cause numbness and tingling in your fingers and hand. Some women may experience difficulty gripping objects due to the numbness. Hand therapy is very effective at reducing pressure on the nerve, decreasing swelling, decreasing inflammation, and increasing the circulation