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Hand and Wrist Pain

Dr. Michael Hoiles has created this resource to help you better understand Hand and Wrist Pain, including its common causes, symptoms, treatment options, recovery expectations, and when it may be appropriate to seek an assessment. Whether your symptoms started suddenly or developed gradually over time, this guide is designed to provide clear, evidence-informed information to help you make informed decisions and return to the activities you enjoy with confidence.

 

What Is Hand and Wrist Pain

Hand and wrist pain refers to discomfort arising from the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, or other soft tissues of the hand and wrist. Symptoms can range from mild stiffness and aching to sharp pain, weakness, numbness, or reduced grip strength. 

Because the hand and wrist perform thousands of movements every day, they are particularly vulnerable to repetitive strain, sports injuries, workplace overuse, and acute trauma. 

A thorough assessment helps identify the structures involved and determine the most appropriate treatment approach. 

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Common Causes 

  • Hand and wrist pain may result from: 

  • Repetitive gripping or lifting  

  • Computer and keyboard use  

  • Sports injuries  

  • Weight training  

  • Wrist sprains  

  • Tendon irritation (tendinopathy)  

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome  

  • De Quervain's Tenosynovitis  

  • Arthritis  

  • Previous fractures  

  • Overuse injuries  

  • Falls onto an outstretched hand  

  • Reduced wrist mobility  

Often, several contributing factors are involved rather than one isolated injury. 

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Common Symptoms 

  • Symptoms may include: 

  • Wrist pain  

  • Hand pain  

  • Thumb pain  

  • Pain with gripping or lifting  

  • Weak grip strength  

  • Clicking or popping  

  • Swelling  

  • Stiffness  

  • Numbness or tingling  

  • Burning sensations  

  • Difficulty opening jars  

  • Difficulty writing or typing  

  • Pain during push-ups or weight-bearing through the hands  

Symptoms vary depending on the underlying condition and tissues involved. 

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What Makes It Worse? 

  • Repetitive gripping  

  • Keyboard or mouse use  

  • Heavy lifting  

  • Push-ups  

  • Weightlifting  

  • Racquet sports  

  • Golf  

  • Prolonged tool use  

  • Carrying heavy objects  

  • Ignoring symptoms and continuing to overload the area  

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What Helps? 

Many people improve with: 

  • Relative rest and activity modification  

  • Gradual return to activity  

  • Strengthening exercises  

  • Mobility exercises  

  • Improving workstation ergonomics  

  • Improving lifting technique  

  • Temporary bracing when appropriate  

  • Manual therapy  

  • Managing training loads  

  • Addressing contributing shoulder and forearm strength deficits  

Treating the entire kinetic chain—not just the painful wrist—often leads to better long-term outcomes. 

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How Chiropractic Can Help 

A chiropractic assessment aims to determine the specific structures contributing to your symptoms and identify the factors that may be slowing your recovery. 

Treatment may include: 

  • Joint mobilization of the wrist and hand  

  • Manual therapy  

  • Soft tissue therapy  

  • Instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy (Graston or FAKTR)  

  • Forearm muscle treatment  

  • Exercise prescription  

  • Grip strengthening  

  • Mobility exercises  

  • Ergonomic recommendations  

  • Activity modification  

  • Return-to-sport planning  

Treatment is individualized based on your diagnosis, goals, occupation, and activity level. 

The goal is to reduce pain, improve movement, restore strength, and help prevent future episodes. 

 

When Is Shockwave Therapy Recommended for Hand & Wrist Pain? 

Shockwave Therapy is not commonly recommended for most causes of hand and wrist pain, as many conditions respond well to exercise, manual therapy, activity modification, and ergonomic improvements. 

However, for certain chronic tendon conditions or persistent soft tissue injuries that have not improved with conservative care alone, shockwave therapy may be considered as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation program. 

Shockwave therapy uses acoustic pressure waves that are thought to stimulate the body's natural healing response, promote tissue repair, improve blood flow, and reduce pain sensitivity within injured tissues. 

During your assessment, we'll determine the specific structure contributing to your symptoms and discuss whether shockwave therapy—or another treatment approach—is the most appropriate option for your condition. 

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Recovery Timeline 

Recovery depends on the specific diagnosis and severity of the injury. 

  • Mild: Minor overuse injuries or wrist sprains often improve within 2–6 weeks. 

  • Moderate: More significant tendon injuries, ligament sprains, or repetitive strain injuries may require 6–12 weeks of rehabilitation. 

  • Chronic: Long-standing tendon problems, arthritis-related symptoms, or complex injuries may require 3–6 months or longer for optimal recovery. 

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Recovery is influenced by the underlying diagnosis, activity demands, and consistency with rehabilitation. 

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Exercises Commonly Recommended 

Exercise recommendations depend on the underlying condition but often include: 

Early Phase 

  • Wrist Range of Motion  

  • Tendon Gliding Exercises  

  • Gentle Grip Exercises  

  • Finger Mobility Exercises  

Recovery Phase 

  • Wrist Flexion and Extension Strengthening  

  • Pronation and Supination Strengthening  

  • Grip Strengthening  

  • Rubber Band Finger Extensions  

  • Wrist Stability Exercises  

Performance Phase 

  • Farmer Carries  

  • Bottoms-Up Kettlebell Carries  

  • Push-up Progressions  

  • Sport-Specific Grip Training  

  • Progressive Resistance Exercises  

Exercises should always be individualized based on the diagnosis and stage of recovery. 

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Can I Still Exercise? 

In many cases, yes. 

Remaining active is usually encouraged, although certain exercises may need to be modified temporarily to avoid placing excessive stress on the injured tissues. 

For example, pushing exercises, heavy gripping, pull-ups, or Olympic lifting may need to be adjusted while symptoms improve. Lower body training, cardiovascular exercise, and other pain-free activities can often continue. 

Following an assessment, recommendations can be made regarding which exercises you can safely continue, which should be modified, and when it is appropriate to return to full activity. 

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When To Seek An Assessment 

Consider booking an assessment if: 

  • Pain has lasted longer than 1–2 weeks  

  • Symptoms are limiting work, sport, or daily activities  

  • Grip strength is decreasing  

  • Pain is interfering with lifting or exercise  

  • Numbness or tingling continues to occur  

  • Home treatment has not improved your symptoms  

  • Pain repeatedly returns during activity  

Early assessment can often identify the underlying cause before symptoms become more persistent or difficult to treat. 

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Common Mistakes That Slow Recovery 

  • Common mistakes include: 

  • Continuing painful activities without modification  

  • Wearing a brace for too long without beginning rehabilitation  

  • Ignoring weakness in the forearm and shoulder  

  • Returning to heavy lifting too quickly  

  • Performing repetitive activities without taking breaks  

  • Focusing only on pain relief rather than rebuilding strength  

  • Stopping rehabilitation exercises once symptoms improve  

  • Long-term success depends on restoring strength, mobility, and tissue capacity—not simply waiting for pain to settle. 

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When Should I worry?  

Seek prompt medical attention if you experience: 

  • Significant deformity following an injury  

  • Inability to move your fingers or wrist  

  • Sudden loss of grip strength  

  • Persistent numbness affecting the entire hand  

  • Severe swelling after trauma  

  • Signs of infection such as redness, warmth, or fever  

  • Pain following a high-impact injury where a fracture is suspected  

These symptoms may indicate a more serious injury requiring urgent medical evaluation. 

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Summary 

Hand and wrist pain is common and often responds well to conservative treatment when addressed early. 

✔ Modify activities rather than stopping all movement. 

✔ Improve wrist mobility, grip strength, and forearm function. 

✔ Address workplace ergonomics and repetitive loading. 

✔ Follow a progressive rehabilitation program. 

✔ Seek an assessment if symptoms persist, worsen, or interfere with work, sport, or everyday activities. 

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Ready to Get Back to Moving Comfortably?

Hand and wrist pain can arise from many different structures, including tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves, muscles, and bones. While many conditions produce similar symptoms, the most effective treatment depends on identifying the underlying cause. 

A comprehensive assessment with Dr. Michael Hoiles will help determine which tissues are involved, identify contributing factors such as repetitive strain or movement patterns, and develop an individualized treatment plan designed to help you return to work, sport, and the activities you enjoy. 

Book an appointment with Dr. Michael Hoiles today to start your recovery and get back to doing what you enjoy. 

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