by Cassy Arsenault & Kevin Delaney, WKRC | Click here to see the full story.
CINCINNATI (WKRC) – As warmer weather draws people outdoors and into more activity, hand therapists are reminding the public to ease back into exercise and yard work to avoid injuries that can interfere with everyday life.
OrthoCincy is celebrating Hand Therapy Week and highlighting the work of certified hand therapists, who treat a wide range of injuries and conditions. Occupational therapists or physical therapists can earn an extra certification to become a certified hand therapist. Hand therapists treat injuries and conditions including sprains and strains, fractures of the upper extremities, nerve injuries, and more.
“Hands are important. If you have one hand that’s in a lot of pain constantly, it’s really going to impair every part of your life,” said Jenny Muller, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist at OrthoCincy.
Muller said people tend to be more active when the weather warms up and that exercise or everyday activities like yard work can sometimes cause pain. Her advice is to avoid doing too much too soon, especially after a period of inactivity.
“So ease into things, and if you start having pain, you know, back off and see if you can get it to calm down, and if you can’t, there are interventions that you can seek,” Muller said.
Muller said hand therapists also commonly see injuries tied to sports such as pickleball, tennis, and golf.
“So we do see overuse injuries. You might hear them referred to as like tennis elbow or golfers elbow, and sometimes that’s from pulling improperly, overdoing it, or doing repetitive motions over and over again,” she said.
Muller has worked as an occupational therapist for more than 35 years. She said she enjoys seeing patients make progress.
“It is a very rewarding profession. It’s nice to see people improve their lives through interventions,” Muller said.
Muller encouraged people experiencing pain to listen to their bodies and seek treatment if something doesn’t feel right.
