Grip, Type, and Lift Comfortably Again
Hand & Wrist Pain
Most hand and wrist pain, from carpal tunnel syndrome to arthritis and "mommy thumb," improves with the right physiotherapy. At Port Credit Physio and Rehab, our Registered Physiotherapists find the exact cause of your pain, then use hands-on care, targeted exercises, and treatments like paraffin wax therapy, therapeutic ultrasound, shockwave therapy, and kinesio taping to ease pain and restore strength. Our goal is to help you grip, type, and lift comfortably again.
Your hands do almost everything. When they hurt, it shows up everywhere: opening a jar, buttoning a shirt, typing an email, holding your phone, or lifting your baby. Tingling fingers can wake you at night, and a stiff thumb can make even turning a key feel like a challenge.
Because the hand is made up of so many small joints, tendons, and nerves, getting the right diagnosis is the first step toward the right treatment.
Common Hand and Wrist Conditions We Treat
Hand and Thumb Arthritis
Osteoarthritis commonly affects the base of the thumb and the small finger joints, causing pain, stiffness, swelling, and bony bumps. Physiotherapy helps with joint protection strategies, strengthening, mobility exercises, and soothing treatments like paraffin wax therapy, which uses gentle, even heat to ease stiffness before exercise.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Happens when the median nerve is squeezed as it passes through a narrow tunnel in the wrist. It causes tingling, numbness, or pain in the thumb, index, and middle fingers, often worse at night or when driving, typing, or holding your phone. Many people improve with physiotherapy, including night splint advice, nerve gliding exercises, and workstation changes.
Trigger Finger
Happens when a finger tendon becomes thickened and catches as it slides through its sheath. Your finger may click, catch, or lock in a bent position, then snap straight. Physiotherapy may include splinting advice, tendon gliding exercises, activity changes, and shockwave therapy, which some research suggests may help reduce symptoms.
Dupuytren's Contracture
Causes the tissue under the skin of the palm to thicken and form cords, slowly pulling one or more fingers into a bent position. Physiotherapy plays a key role in monitoring changes, maintaining finger movement, and rehabilitation after a procedure to release the cords.
Skier's Thumb (Thumb Ligament Injury)
An injury to the ligament on the inner side of the thumb, usually from a fall with your hand holding a ski pole, or any fall that forces the thumb outward. Partial tears often heal well with a thumb splint and physiotherapy to restore motion and strength.
TFCC Injury (Pinky-Side Wrist Pain)
The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is a cushion of cartilage and ligaments on the pinky side of your wrist, often injured by a fall on an outstretched hand or repetitive twisting. Many improve with bracing, activity changes, and progressive wrist strengthening.
De Quervain's Tenosynovitis ("Mommy Thumb")
Irritation of two tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. It's often called "mommy thumb" because new parents develop it from repeatedly lifting babies with their thumbs spread wide. Treatment includes thumb splint advice, kinesio taping to offload the tendons, therapeutic ultrasound, and progressive strengthening.
Wrist Fractures
A broken wrist, usually from a fall onto an outstretched hand, is one of the most common fractures, especially in winter. Physiotherapy restores movement, grip strength, and function once your doctor confirms the bone is healing.
Wrist Sprains and Tendon Irritation
Falls, sports, and repetitive tasks can sprain wrist ligaments or irritate tendons, causing pain and weakness. Rehab focuses on restoring strength and stability so you can return to work, sport, and daily tasks safely.
Post-Surgical Hand and Wrist Rehab
After carpal tunnel release, trigger finger release, Dupuytren's surgery, or fracture repair, physiotherapy helps reduce swelling, manage scar tissue, and restore movement and strength. See our pre- and post-surgical physiotherapy page for more.
What Are the Most Common Signs of a Hand or Wrist Problem?
Pain in the wrist, thumb, palm, or fingers
Stiffness, especially first thing in the morning
Numbness, tingling, or pins and needles in the fingers
Weak grip or dropping objects
A finger that catches, clicks, or locks when you bend it
Swelling or visible bumps around the joints
Clicking or pain on the pinky side of the wrist when twisting
Difficulty straightening your fingers fully
Why Are the Hands and Wrists So Easily Injured?
Your hand and wrist contain 27 bones, dozens of joints, and a complex network of tendons, ligaments, and nerves, all packed into a small space. This design gives you incredible precision, from threading a needle to typing at speed.
That precision comes with a trade-off. Tendons slide through narrow tunnels, nerves pass through tight spaces, and small joints handle a lot of force when you grip. Repetitive tasks, sudden falls, and age-related changes can all irritate these structures. The good news is that most hand problems respond very well to early, targeted treatment.
How Physiotherapy Helps Hand and Wrist Pain
A thorough assessment
Your Registered Physiotherapist will test your grip and pinch strength, joint movement, nerve function, and the specific tendons involved. We'll also check your neck and elbow, since nerve irritation there can cause hand symptoms.
Paraffin wax therapy
Warm paraffin wax wraps your hand in gentle, even heat. It's especially soothing for stiff, arthritic joints and helps loosen your hands before exercise.
Therapeutic ultrasound
Ultrasound uses sound waves to deliver gentle energy to deeper tissues, used alongside exercise for tendon irritation and pain.
Shockwave therapy
Sends acoustic pulses into irritated tendons to reduce pain sensitivity and stimulate the body's natural healing response. It may help stubborn tendon problems like trigger finger when other treatments haven't worked.
Taping
Kinesio taping supports irritated tendons and joints while you stay active, especially for mommy thumb and wrist pain.
Hands-on therapy and exercise
Joint mobilizations and soft tissue work ease stiffness, while targeted exercises rebuild grip strength, fine motor control, and tendon health.
Splinting advice and joint protection
We'll advise on the right brace or splint for your condition and teach you easier ways to grip, lift, and type to protect your joints.
Workstation and activity changes
Small changes to your keyboard, mouse, phone use, tools, or baby-lifting technique can make a big difference.
Many patients also benefit from Registered Massage Therapy for tight forearm, neck, and shoulder muscles that often accompany hand and wrist pain.
When to Seek Urgent Care
Go to the emergency department if:
- Your wrist or finger looks deformed after a fall
- You can't move your fingers, or your hand is cold, pale, or numb after an injury
- Your hand or finger is hot, red, and very swollen, especially after a cut or bite, as this can be a serious infection
See your doctor promptly if you have:
- Constant numbness in your fingers, or weakness or shrinking of the muscles at the base of your thumb
- A finger that's stuck in a bent position and won't straighten
- Pain and swelling after a thumb injury, especially if your pinch feels weak or unstable
- Wrist pain after a fall that isn't improving within a few days, since some wrist fractures don't show up right away
Common Questions About Hand & Wrist Pain Treatment
Can physiotherapy help carpal tunnel syndrome?
Yes. Many people with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome improve with physiotherapy, including night splints, nerve gliding exercises, activity changes, and workstation adjustments. If you have constant numbness or thumb weakness, we'll recommend a medical assessment, as surgery may be needed.
Is paraffin wax therapy good for arthritis in the hands?
Many people with hand arthritis find paraffin wax very soothing. The gentle heat can ease stiffness and pain for a short time, making it easier to do your exercises.
What is mommy thumb, and how long does it last?
Mommy thumb, or De Quervain's tenosynovitis, is irritation of the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, often from lifting a baby. With splinting, changes to how you lift, and physiotherapy, many people improve within a few weeks to a few months.
Do I need surgery for trigger finger?
Not always. Mild trigger finger often improves with splinting, activity changes, and physiotherapy. Surgery is usually considered if the finger stays locked or other treatments haven't worked.
Should I wear a wrist brace at night?
For carpal tunnel syndrome, a night splint that keeps your wrist straight can reduce tingling and help you sleep. Your physiotherapist can recommend the right type of brace for your specific condition.
Can physiotherapy fix Dupuytren's contracture?
Physiotherapy can't remove the thickened cords in the palm, but it helps maintain finger movement, monitor changes, and restore function after a procedure to release the cords.
How long does a TFCC injury take to heal?
Many TFCC injuries improve within 6 to 12 weeks with bracing, activity changes, and strengthening. More severe tears or those causing wrist instability may need a specialist opinion.
How do I know if I sprained or broke my wrist?
It can be hard to tell. Significant swelling, bruising, deformity, or pain when pressing on the bone after a fall all need an X-ray.
What exercises help hand arthritis?
Gentle finger and thumb range-of-motion exercises, tendon glides, and grip strengthening can reduce stiffness and improve hand function.
Does shockwave therapy work for hand and wrist pain?
Shockwave therapy may help some stubborn tendon conditions, such as trigger finger, when other treatments haven't worked. It isn't right for every condition, so your physiotherapist will assess whether it's a good fit for you.
Related Services
Physiotherapy
Evidence-based physiotherapy in Port Credit, Mississauga. McKenzie Method® & Graston Technique® for back pain, sciatica, and sports injuries.
Kinesio Taping
Kinesiology taping to support muscles and joints and ease pain while you stay active, as part of a complete physio plan.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy (ESWT) for plantar fasciitis, tendinitis, tennis elbow, and calcific shoulder pain. Non-invasive. Open 7 days.
Massage Therapy (RMT)
Restore Balance, Ease Tension, Reclaim Your Life
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