What’s not to love about summer? The sun is shining, the days are longer, and it’s the perfect time to stay active and enjoy the outdoors. But with all that increased activity—from gardening and sports to DIY home projects—your hands become more vulnerable to injury.
Your upper extremities work as an interconnected system, so an injury to your hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder can affect the function of your entire arm. When pain or discomfort sets in, it can quickly bring your summer plans to a halt.
At FORM Hand Therapy, we’re here to help prevent that from happening. Our team specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of conditions affecting the hand, wrist, elbow, and fingers so that you can stay active and pain-free all summer long. With us, you’re truly in good hands.
Common Hand, Wrist, and Elbow Injuries During Summer
Here are some of the most common upper extremity injuries we see during the summer:
- Tendonitis: As an overuse injury characterized by inflammation of the tendons, tendonitis commonly affects those who participate in popular summer sports such as baseball, tennis, and golfing.
- Fractures: Accidents happen, and when you fall while biking or hiking, instinctively using your hands to break the fall can result in fractures to the hand, wrist, or elbow.
- Sprains and Strains: These injuries happen all year, but increased activity, awkward falls, and sometimes insufficient warm-up or rest can significantly raise the risk of sprains and strains during the summer months.
- Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): While common among tennis players, this injury also frequently affects those who engage in activities like gardening, painting, or any task involving repetitive gripping or wrist motions.
- Trigger Finger: If your finger or thumb gets stuck in a bent position and won’t straighten easily, you might be experiencing trigger finger. This condition is especially common in the summer, when activities like gardening, yard work, home projects, and racket sports involve repetitive gripping and forceful use of the fingers and thumbs.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: This condition can impact anyone, but repetitive motions—like swinging a hammer or operating vibrating power tools—can compress the median nerve, causing numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hand.
Find Effective Relief for Summer Hand Pain at FORM Hand Therapy
Summer is for making memories, not for living with pain. If you’ve experienced any of the injuries mentioned above or are dealing with ongoing discomfort, don’t wait another day. At FORM Hand Therapy, we prioritize conservative, non-invasive treatments to help you achieve lasting relief. Surgical options are only considered when necessary, and always as a final step.
Your recovery starts with a comprehensive evaluation. We’ll review your symptoms, examine the affected areas, and perform any necessary diagnostic testing to accurately identify the root cause of your pain and build a personalized care plan.
Pain doesn’t wait—and neither should you. Call (510) 350-3030 or book your appointment online today, Take control of your hand health and make this summer your best yet.