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Broken Wrist Hand Therapy Physiotherapy

Also known as "Colles fractures", broken wrists are such common conditions that happens whenever a person falls with outstretched hands to "break" their falls, which in turn, breaks/fractures their wrists.

symptoms of broken wrist

The symptoms include

  • mild to severe pain in wrists
  • wrist unable to move
  • swollen wrist
  • "dinner fork" deformity of the wirst
  • weakness of the wrist and hand that is affected
  • inability to move and grip on the affected hand

If you think or suspect that you have a broken wrist, or your friend or someone close to you has it, take him or her as soon as you can to the doctor/accident and emergency (A&E) unit of your local hospital immediately.

If there is no broken skin (ie no bleeding etc), then you should/can also wrap the wrist in ice packs to decrease the pain and swelling (note: never put ice packs directly, so it should be layers: skin > towel > ice packs > towels).

what will happen in a&e

There the doctor will get you to do an X-ray to confirm the severity of your wrist fracture, which will determine the solutions provided:

  • mild fracture with little to no rotation: possibly can be treated with simple plaster-of-paris casting or thermoplastic splinting with pain killers
  • moderate-bad fractures with dislocations/rotations: higher likelihood of surgical requirement to bring and correct the alignment of the broken pieces

hand therapy / physiotherapy for broken wrists

Regardless which route of treatment the doctor decides on (be it plaster casting, splinting or surgery), you will almost immediately begin with hand therapy and physiotherapy for your broken wrist.

Our focus as

  • specialist hand therapists: to ensure that the unaffected joints and muscles of the fingers and elbows receive full range of motion exercises and treatment
  • specialist physiotherapists: to ensure that the unaffected joints and muscles of the shoulder receive full range of motion exercises and treatment

These are to prevent any risks of stiffness a result of fear, pain and non-mobility because of guarded movements. Of course, these therapies also helps to decrease pain, swelling and inflammation due to muscle pumping.

If the doctor recommended/decided on plaster casting, and assuming that the wrist bones heals completely without any complications, then the plaster cast can usually be removed after about 6-8 weeks. When the cast is removed, we will start a lot more active physiotherapy and hand therapy interventions.

If the doctor decided for splinting or surgery using plates and screws, active hand therapy sessions and interventions will be started immediately and intermittently; but of course with with fracture precaution.

That means that hand therapy/physiotherapy sessions will do active or active-assisted range of motion activities to maintain joint integrity, range of motion, prevent muscle wastage and tightness. When the orthopedic surgeon confirms that the broken bones integrity (ie healing is good and stronger) has improved, we will start more active physiotherapy intervention, such as passive and resistive exercises.

Whenever necessary, we will also perform mobilization and manipulation of soft tissue and joints to decrease the amount of stiffness and to provide pain relief and improve the range (better range = better function and strength).

We will gradually progress to strengthening as well, which will include carrying weights and engaging in resistive activities.

To support your wrist, we may prescribe exercise therapy using theraputty, hand therapy equipment as well as finger and grip strengthening exercisers to strengthen the muscles of the fingers and wrist, as this will become a natural gauntlet to protect the broken wrist.



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Phoenix Rehab Singapore Core Services And Specializations

Phoenix Rehab Group works with specialist physiotherapists and specialist rehab therapists who are highly trained, qualified, experienced and passionate to provide high level of expert care to our patients.

HAND THERAPY &  SPLINTING

Patients who sustained injuries to their elbows, forearms, hands, wrists (sprains and fractures) and fingers, and requires Hand Therapy to increase the function of their hand following injuries or post-operations and custom made hand splints.



CLINICAL PILATES & WELLNESS PILATES

Clinical Pilates is a form of physical exercise that focuses on posture, core stability, balance, control, strength, flexibility, and breathing.

It is a system of safe and effective exercises, which meet specific individual needs, to treat a wide range of injuries and conditions.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)



DEEP TISSUE RELEASE & SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPY

Sports and deep tissue release massage helps to increase nutrient-rich blood flow to tired , tight and tense muscles to accelerate recovery and shorten downtime. It also helps prevents muscles from scar tissue micro-tears (and future ruptures), and increases muscle performance. When done regularly it will keeps your muscles and you healthy and fit and have body/movement-confidence.

PERSONAL TRAINING

Having a dedicated personal trainer/personal training helps you get faster and better health, fitness and wellness results.

You can expect better fat loss and muscle gain, have reduced risks of injury, establish effective exercise and health habits as well as overcome those annoying "flatline plateus" to breakthrough to your next level of fitness and weight loss.

All our allied health therapists and TCM physicians are fully insured and registered with Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Board (TCMB).

See our entire team here by location and specialization.

At the first session, our specialist physiotherapists will carry out a thorough assessment, helping them to select the most appropriate treatment to help you recover as well as provide treatment in the same session. 

Follow up sessions are inline to provide expert treatment for your pain as well as prescribing specific exercises to reduce your risk of re-injury and giving you a long term solution.

do Tell Your Family, Friends And Colleagues About Us =)

We appreciate you as a patient and want you to know that the #1 (and only) way we grow as a clinic is through word of mouth referrals from valued patients like yourself.

We do not rely on advertising - instead, we prefer and appreciate the goodwill and positive reinforcement from patients. When you have the opportunity, please take the time to tell your family, friends and physicians about the positive results and experience you have had in our clinic.

book a physiotherapy appointment today