Wrist Pain - Health2U

Wrist Pain

Wrist Pain

Wrist pain is a common complaint. The wrist is the joint which connects the bottom of the arm to the hand. It is surrounded by a number of different structures. Many types of wrist pain are caused by sudden injuries that result in sprains or fractures. But the pain also can be caused by more long-term problems. The possible causes can be seen by clicking on the different wrist areas below.

Self diagnosis can lead to wasted time trying to sort without success. This can lead to Chronic Pain. One of our experienced physios can come to you at home and work to solve what’s causing the pain and fix the problem.

Osteoarthritis of the thumb:

The base of the thumb can commonly become stiff and painful with gripping, pinching and lifting activity. Osteoarthritis commonly affects an older population but can occur earlier with excessive lifting or trauma that may change the joint loading and therefore the cartilage health. Pain is usually aching in nature but can be sharp and localised to the base of the thumb and wrist.

Physiotherapy techniques such as specialised splinting, both functional and resting splints can be useful in managing symptoms. Likewise, taping techniques, soft tissue release, joint mobilisations and targeted strengthening can provide symptom relief. For persistent pain, acupuncture can provide pain relief.


Wrist fracture (distal radius):

A fall on an outstretched hand can cause fracturing of the wrist bones. One fracture is known as a ‘colles fracture’ which gives the wrist a dinnerfork like looking deformity. Commonly this requires plaster immobilisation and ultimately the wrist becomes stiff from this period of immobility. As the bones heal it is imperative that normal movement patterns are restored as well as normal flexibility and strength.

Techniques such as joint mobilisations, mobilisations with movement, specific soft tissue release techniques and joint strengthening exercises can be effectively used by your physiotherapist to achieved normal movement and functional use of the wrist in daily activities.


Scaphoid fracture:

The scaphoid bone is found at the base of the thumb near the wrist joint. It is a small bone held tightly between the long bones of the fingers and the wrist. With trauma to the wrist and heavy falls it can be injured or even fractured. This results in wrist pain and sometimes thumb pain that can be severe. This injury is sometimes missed in X-Ray investigation initially due to the nature of the injury and small size of the bone.

Your physiotherapist can assess the injury and identify any local scaphoid injury, directing you to the appropriate and best course of treatment. Taping techniques, mobilisations and splinting can be utilised to reduce pain and aid in healing.


Wrist impaction syndrome

Impaction describes the bones being impacted into each other and can affect a number of bones in the wrist and hand. It is usually related to repetition of weight bearing activities, ie golf, racquet sports, weight lifting or gymnastics.

Your physiotherapist can help you to manage the problem and avoid the aggravating factors. Anti-inflammatory advice is often given. Surgery is only required when the injury is extensive. We can recommend a top Singapore hand and wrist consultant in this case.


De Quervains tendinopathy:

The tendons that run into the thumb run in a sheath to protect them and ensure smooth and efficient movement across the wrist bones. These tendons can become inflamed, degenerate and painful after periods of unaccustomed repetitive such as painting and decorating. New mothers can be susceptible due to the repetitive nature of picking up and lifting a newborn baby. The pain can be sharp over the outer wrist and base of the thumb, normally can be reproduced by feeling and often there is crepitus or ‘crunching’ as the thumb is moved.

Physiotherapy can be highly effective in reducing symptoms of De Quervains tendinopathy by introducing specialised splinting, active rest, advice and activity modification advice, graduated loading exercises and acupuncture.


Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is when the immune system goes haywire and attacks the body rather than defending it causing inflammation of the lining of the joints and tendons of the muscles. In both conditions joints in the body that have the arthritis become swollen, painful and stiff. Morning stiffness on waking is very common. Muscles around the joints often become weaker and doing certain activities of daily living can become more difficult.

We can provide experienced physiotherapists to see you at home and work with you to help manage your condition. The first time the physiotherapist visits they will carry out a thorough assessment which includes looking at your mobility and walking aids, muscle strength, joint movement, posture and function. Following the assessment the physiotherapist will discuss any treatments they can provide and set goals with you to improve your general function and mobility and achieve the maximum potential in your home, work and social life. These treatments can include advice on ice, exercise programmes, massage, taping, acupuncture and mobility programmes.

We can also provide occupational therapists to come to your home. They help people to regain the ability to carry out activities that have purpose and meaning to them and become or remain as independent as possible. Some of the services they can offer include:

  • Home assessments including modifications such as rearranging furniture, building ramps, widening doorways, grab bars, special toilet seats etc
  • Wheelchair assessments
  • Splinting

Chronic Pain

Acute pain is the pain we feel immediately after injuring ourselves and while the injury is healing. Chronic pain is pain that continues even though healing has occurred and it is not unusual to find no direct link between the pain and the original injury that may have healed a long time ago. Chemical changes happen in the brain and spinal cord to re-route signals to pain centres in the brain. Then any normal sensation such as a movement, touch, pressure, stretching etc can be felt as pain. In some instances the pain system can be activated without any physical stimulus ie changes in weather, mood, thoughts or no stimulus at all.

Physiotherapy for chronic pain has to involve many aspects and address other factors that come into play rather than just the pain itself. They will treat the pain and also use methods to help you manage your pain including advice on pacing and coping with flare ups and negative thoughts, graduated exercise programmes and goal setting. They will aim to return to you being able to participate again in activities you were involved in before developing chronic pain whether work, sport of hobby related. We can also can recommend a top Singapore pain consultant who can help you.


Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

This condition as the name suggests is complex. The pain is often constant and of a burning type. The body part affected is often very sensitive to touch and just a stroke can cause pain. There can be changes in temperature and colour of the body part and on occasions growth of excess hair and swelling. The wrist can be affected by this syndrome and the symptoms can extend up the arm or over the hand. The exact cause of it is not clearly known and can happen with no cause but there can be an event before it occurs such as a fracture. ‘The sympathetic nervous system’ has been shown to be involved which controls blood flow and skin temperature.

Physiotherapy can help with this condition by keeping the part of the body affected moving and stop it stiffening up. They can help to use techniques to desensitise the area and acupuncture can help the pain in some cases. Your physiotherapist will also recommend a top Singapore pain consultant to you who can use treatments to block the sympathetic nervous system from firing and provide appropriate medication to help with the pain.


Other possible causes

Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history of your symptoms and past medical history before performing a full physical examination. There are a number of other possible causes of your symptoms which are not appropriate for a physiotherapist to treat in any way or that need a medical opinion alongside physiotherapy treatment. In this case they will recommend you to your GP or an appropriate specialist doctor or specialist consultant. These possible causes include:

  • cardiovascular symptoms
  • respiratory (breathing) symptoms
  • gynaecological symptoms
  • urinary or genital symptoms
  • digestive symptoms
  • immune system symptoms
  • lymph system symptoms
  • hormonal symptoms
  • neurological symptoms
  • dermatological (skin) symptoms
  • medication side-effects
  • virus
  • infection
  • cancer
  • disease process
  • psychological problem ie. depression, anxiety

Ulnar sided wrist pain

This information is not a definitive list but only a guide to possible causes of your pain which can be helped by your physiotherapist. There are a wide range of medical conditions that can cause your pain. An assessment by one of our physiotherapists will allow them to take a detailed history and perform a thorough examination to give a diagnosis. They can then treat you effectively or recommend a medical referral if it is required.


Triangular fibrocartilage injury:

The triangular fibrocartilage is a piece of tough soft tissue like cartilage that sits in the joint on the little finger side of the wrist. It provides stability and congruency to the joint during movement and function. Pain around the area can be due to traumatic falls onto the hand or by repetitive activity that causes trauma over time to the area such as playing golf. This can also cause clicking or catching within the joint.

Physiotherapy techniques such as joint mobilisations, specific soft tissue techniques, taping including kinesio taping and stabilisation exercises can help control the pain from fibrocartilage injury.


Ulnar nerve entrapment:

The ulnar nerve passes very close to several small bones in the wrist near the base of the 5th finger. It can become compressed, inflamed or irritated by long periods of cycling or gripping, particularly on uneven or bumpy ground. Symptoms can include numbness, tingling or shooting and burning pains that can spread down into the 4th and 5th fingers if severe.

Physiotherapy treatment can look to correct poor biomechanics and hand positions with function and offer advice on management to prevent future injury. Acupuncture, soft tissue techniques, specialised splinting techniques and nerve gliding exercises can be provided to aid in healing and pain relief.


Ulnar styloid fracture:

The ulnar styloid is the small prominent bone on the end of the outer wrist. It can be injured when a wrist is fractured during a fall and a small piece of the end bone is avulsed/pulled off with the force. This can cause aching and pain localised to the area and the border of the wrist, particularly with lifting and carrying.

Your physiotherapist can provide specialised splinting, joint mobilisation, stabilising exercises and taping techniques to reduced pain and improve function of the wrist. Specialised equipment can also be utilised to aid in bony healing and speed up recovery after fracture.


Repetitive strain injury:

In todays electronic, computer based world repetitive injury is common due to our use of computers on a regular and often excessive daily amount. The repetitive nature of many roles will encourage inflammation of tissue, altered nutrient flow and poor tissue health pleading to pain. These pains can be odd, sharp, shooting, aching or random in nature. Possibly not linked directly to a specific injury and could come and go.

Your physiotherapist can fully asses the underlying causes of the symptoms, direct you towards computer health techniques, provide pain relief with specific soft tissue techniques and provide wrist stabilising exercise and stretches targeted to your condition. Acupuncture has also been shown to relieve a large part of repetitive strain injury if started quickly. A workstation assessment can also take place which can correct any problems that may be contributing to your pain.


Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint in the body and is a the process of ‘wear and tear’ where the cartilage covering the area of bone that makes up the joint is gradually worn away over time. Rheumatoid Arthritis is when the immune system goes haywire and attacks the body rather than defending it causing inflammation of the lining of the joints and tendons of the muscles. In both conditions joints in the body that have the arthritis become swollen, painful and stiff. Morning stiffness on waking is very common. Muscles around the joints often become weaker and doing certain activities of daily living can become more difficult.

We can provide experienced physiotherapists to see you at home and work with you to help manage your condition. The first time the physiotherapist visits they will carry out a thorough assessment which includes looking at your mobility and walking aids, muscle strength, joint movement, posture and function. Following the assessment the physiotherapist will discuss any treatments they can provide and set goals with you to improve your general function and mobility and achieve the maximum potential in your home, work and social life. These treatments can include advice on ice, exercise programmes, massage, taping, acupuncture and mobility programmes.

We can also provide occupational therapists to come to your home. They help people to regain the ability to carry out activities that have purpose and meaning to them and become or remain as independent as possible. Some of the services they can offer include:

  • Home assessments including modifications such as rearranging furniture, building ramps, widening doorways, grab bars, special toilet seats etc
  • Wheelchair assessments
  • Splinting

Chronic Pain

Acute pain is the pain we feel immediately after injuring ourselves and while the injury is healing. Chronic pain is pain that continues even though healing has occurred and it is not unusual to find no direct link between the pain and the original injury that may have healed a long time ago. Chemical changes happen in the brain and spinal cord to re-route signals to pain centres in the brain. Then any normal sensation such as a movement, touch, pressure, stretching etc can be felt as pain. In some instances the pain system can be activated without any physical stimulus ie changes in weather, mood, thoughts or no stimulus at all.

Physiotherapy for chronic pain has to involve many aspects and address other factors that come into play rather than just the pain itself. They will treat the pain and also use methods to help you manage your pain including advice on pacing and coping with flare ups and negative thoughts, graduated exercise programmes and goal setting. They will aim to return to you being able to participate again in activities you were involved in before developing chronic pain whether work, sport of hobby related. We can also recommend top Singapore pain consultants who can help you.


Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

This condition as the name suggests is complex. The pain is often constant and of a burning type. The body part affected is often very sensitive to touch and just a stroke can cause pain. There can be changes in temperature and colour of the body part and on occasions growth of excess hair and swelling. The wrist can be affected by this syndrome and the symptoms can extend over the hand and up the arm. The exact cause of it is not clearly known and can happen with no cause but there can be an event before it occurs such as a fracture. ‘The sympathetic nervous system’ has been shown to be involved which controls blood flow and skin temperature.

Physiotherapy can help with this condition by keeping the part of the body affected moving and stop it stiffening up. They can help to use techniques to desensitise the area and acupuncture can help the pain in some cases. Your physiotherapist will also recommend a top Singapore pain consultant to you who can use treatments to block the sympathetic nervous system from firing and provide appropriate medication to help with the pain.


Other possible causes

Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history of your symptoms and past medical history before performing a full physical examination. There are a number of other possible causes of your symptoms which are not appropriate for a physiotherapist to treat in any way or that need a medical opinion alongside physiotherapy treatment. In this case they will recommend you to your GP or an appropriate specialist doctor or specialist consultant. These possible causes include:

  • cardiovascular symptoms
  • respiratory (breathing) symptoms
  • gynaecological symptoms
  • urinary or genital symptoms
  • digestive symptoms
  • immune system symptoms
  • lymph system symptoms
  • hormonal symptoms
  • neurological symptoms
  • dermatological (skin) symptoms
  • medication side-effects
  • virus
  • infection
  • cancer
  • disease process
  • psychological problem ie. depression, anxiety

Carpal tunnel syndrome:

The carpal tunnel is, as it simply states, a tunnel at the wrist that several structure including the median nerve and blood vessels have to pass through to supply the hand. These structures can become compressed and irritated if space within the tunnel is restricted. This occurs during repetitive activities such as lifting, cycling, typing and in new mothers where the fluid levels can change leading to increased compression in the tunnel. Symptoms include tingling and numbness along the median nerve, commonly into the thumb and index finger, pain in this area and if severe or prolonged, weakness of the grip and hand.

Physiotherapy techniques such as taping, acupuncture, specialised splinting, joint mobilisations and soft tissue release can aid in recovery and pain relief. If physiotherapy is not successful we can recommend a top Singapore wrist consultant to review you.


Hook of hamate fracture

This fracture is rare and happens to one of the bones of the hand next to the wrist. Sports that can cause it include swinging a golf club, racquet sports, hockey, baseball. It tends to be of your non-dominant hand in golf of baseball and your dominant hand in racquet sports. The pain tends be a dull ache on the little finger side of the palm and there can be sharp pain with certain movements or gripping. Surgery is usually indicated with this type of fracture as immobilizing the fracture for a period of time tends not to be successful. We can recommend a top Singapore wrist consultant if this is suspected.


Wrist ganglion

These can occur at any age. They are formed by thick fluid collecting within the coating of a tendon or capsule that surrounds the wrist joint.. Over time they harden and sometimes are tender to touch and painful when moved.

They can resolve spontaneously but physiotherapy can help with manual therapy and advice on reducing swelling. Persistent ganglions require a medical referral. We can recommend a top Singapore wrist consultant in this case.


Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint in the body and is a the process of ‘wear and tear’ where the cartilage covering the area of bone that makes up the joint is gradually worn away over time. Rheumatoid Arthritis is when the immune system goes haywire and attacks the body rather than defending it causing inflammation of the lining of the joints and tendons of the muscles. In both conditions joints in the body that have the arthritis become swollen, painful and stiff. Morning stiffness on waking is very common. Muscles around the joints often become weaker and doing certain activities of daily living can become more difficult.

We can provide experienced physiotherapists to see you at home and work with you to help manage your condition. The first time the physiotherapist visits they will carry out a thorough assessment which includes looking at your mobility and walking aids, muscle strength, joint movement, posture and function. Following the assessment the physiotherapist will discuss any treatments they can provide and set goals with you to improve your general function and mobility and achieve the maximum potential in your home, work and social life. These treatments can include advice on ice, exercise programmes, massage, taping, acupuncture and mobility programmes.

We can also provide occupational therapists to come to your home. They help people to regain the ability to carry out activities that have purpose and meaning to them and become or remain as independent as possible. Some of the services they can offer include:

  • Home assessments including modifications such as rearranging furniture, building ramps, widening doorways, grab bars, special toilet seats etc
  • Wheelchair assessments
  • Splinting

Chronic Pain

Acute pain is the pain we feel immediately after injuring ourselves and while the injury is healing. Chronic pain is pain that continues even though healing has occurred and it is not unusual to find no direct link between the pain and the original injury that may have healed a long time ago. Chemical changes happen in the brain and spinal cord to re-route signals to pain centres in the brain. Then any normal sensation such as a movement, touch, pressure, stretching etc can be felt as pain. In some instances the pain system can be activated without any physical stimulus ie changes in weather, mood, thoughts or no stimulus at all.

Physiotherapy for chronic pain has to involve many aspects and address other factors that come into play rather than just the pain itself. They will treat the pain and also use methods to help you manage your pain including advice on pacing and coping with flare ups and negative thoughts, graduated exercise programmes and goal setting. They will aim to return to you being able to participate again in activities you were involved in before developing chronic pain whether work, sport of hobby related. If required we are able to recommend to Singapore pain consultants to help you.


Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

This condition as the name suggests is complex. The pain is often constant and of a burning type. The body part affected is often very sensitive to touch and just a stroke can cause pain. There can be changes in temperature and colour of the body part and on occasions growth of excess hair and swelling. The wrist can be affected by this syndrome and the pain can extend over the hand and up the arm. The exact cause of it is not clearly known and can happen with no cause but there can be an event before it occurs such as a fracture. ‘The sympathetic nervous system’ has been shown to be involved which controls blood flow and skin temperature.

Physiotherapy can help with this condition by keeping the part of the body affected moving and stop it stiffening up. They can help to use techniques to desensitise the area and acupuncture can help the pain in some cases. Your physiotherapist will also recommend a top Singapore pain consultant to you who can use treatments to block the sympathetic nervous system from firing and provide appropriate medication to help with the pain.


Other possible causes

Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history of your symptoms and past medical history before performing a full physical examination. There are a number of other possible causes of your symptoms which are not appropriate for a physiotherapist to treat in any way or that need a medical opinion alongside physiotherapy treatment. In this case they will recommend you to your GP or an appropriate specialist doctor or specialist consultant. These possible causes include:

  • cardiovascular symptoms
  • respiratory (breathing) symptoms
  • gynaecological symptoms
  • urinary or genital symptoms
  • digestive symptoms
  • immune system symptoms
  • lymph system symptoms
  • hormonal symptoms
  • neurological symptoms
  • dermatological (skin) symptoms
  • medication side-effects
  • virus
  • infection
  • cancer
  • disease process
  • psychological problem ie. depression, anxiety

Wrist fracture (distal radius):

A fall on an outstretched hand can cause fracturing of the wrist bones. One fracture is known as a ‘colles fracture’ which gives the wrist a dinnerfork like looking deformity. Commonly this requires plaster immobilisation and ultimately the wrist becomes stiff from this period of immobility. As the bones heal it is imperative that normal movement patterns are restored as well as normal flexibility and strength.

Techniques such as joint mobilisations, mobilisations with movement, specific soft tissue release techniques and joint strengthening exercises can be effectively used by your physiotherapist to achieved normal movement and functional use of the wrist in daily activities.


Scaphoid fracture:

The scaphoid bone is found at the base of the thumb near the wrist joint. It is a small bone held tightly between the long bones of the fingers and the wrist. With trauma to the wrist and heavy falls it can be injured or even fractured. This results in wrist pain and sometimes thumb pain that can be severe. This injury is sometimes missed in X-Ray investigation initially due to the nature of the injury and small size of the bone.

Your physiotherapist can assess the injury and identify any local scaphoid injury, directing you to the appropriate and best course of treatment. Taping techniques, mobilisations and splinting can be utilised to reduce pain and aid in healing.


Wrist impaction syndrome

Impaction describes the bones being impacted into each other and can affect a number of bones in the wrist and hand. It is usually related to repetition of weight bearing activities, ie golf, racquet sports, weight lifting or gymnastics.

Your physiotherapist can help you to manage the problem and avoid the aggravating factors. Anti-inflammatory advice is often given. Surgery is only required when the injury is extensive.


Scapholunate dissociation

This injury is when you fall onto the back of your hand. Symptoms include swelling and tenderness over the back of the wrist.

Physiotherapy can help if the instability is minor however if physiotherapy treatment fails then a medical referral is required.


Triangular fibrocartilage injury:

The triangular fibrocartilage is a piece of tough soft tissue like cartilage that sits in the joint on the little finger side of the wrist. It provides stability and allows effective movement of the joint during movement and function. Pain around the area can be due to traumatic falls into the hand or outstretched arm. This can also cause clicking or catching within the joint.

Physiotherapy techniques such as joint mobilisations, specific soft tissue techniques, taping including kinesio taping and stabilisation exercises can help control the pain from fibrocartilage injury.


Distal radioulnar joint instability

This can happen if there is a repetitive or forceful twisting motion of the wrist and forearm. Typically occurs in sports such as gymnastics, contact and racquet sports.

Physiotherapy can help with taping, setting exercises and manual therapy.


Wrist ganglion

These can occur in athletes of any age. They are formed by thick fluid collecting within the coating of a tendon or capsule that surrounds the wrist joint.. Over time they harden and sometimes are tender to touch and painful when moved.

They can resolve spontaneously but physio can help with manual therapy and advice on reducing swelling. Persistent gangions require a medical referral.


Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint in the body and is a the process of ‘wear and tear’ where the cartilage covering the area of bone that makes up the joint is gradually worn away over time. Rheumatoid Arthritis is when the immune system goes haywire and attacks the body rather than defending it causing inflammation of the lining of the joints and tendons of the muscles. In both conditions joints in the body that have the arthritis become swollen, painful and stiff. Morning stiffness on waking is very common. Muscles around the joints often become weaker and doing certain activities of daily living can become more difficult.

We can provide experienced physiotherapists to see you at home and work with you to help manage your condition. The first time the physiotherapist visits they will carry out a thorough assessment which includes looking at your mobility and walking aids, muscle strength, joint movement, posture and function. Following the assessment the physiotherapist will discuss any treatments they can provide and set goals with you to improve your general function and mobility and achieve the maximum potential in your home, work and social life. These treatments can include advice on ice, exercise programmes, massage, taping, acupuncture and mobility programmes.

We can also provide occupational therapists to come to your home. They help people to regain the ability to carry out activities that have purpose and meaning to them and become or remain as independent as possible. Some of the services they can offer include:

  • Home assessments including modifications such as rearranging furniture, building ramps, widening doorways, grab bars, special toilet seats etc
  • Wheelchair assessments
  • Splinting

Chronic Pain

Acute pain is the pain we feel immediately after injuring ourselves and while the injury is healing. Chronic pain is pain that continues even though healing has occurred and it is not unusual to find no direct link between the pain and the original injury that may have healed a long time ago. Chemical changes happen in the brain and spinal cord to re-route signals to pain centres in the brain. Then any normal sensation such as a movement, touch, pressure, stretching etc can be felt as pain. In some instances the pain system can be activated without any physical stimulus ie changes in weather, mood, thoughts or no stimulus at all.

Physiotherapy for chronic pain has to involve many aspects and address other factors that come into play rather than just the pain itself. They will treat the pain and also use methods to help you manage your pain including advice on pacing and coping with flare ups and negative thoughts, graduated exercise programmes and goal setting. They will aim to return to you being able to participate again in activities you were involved in before developing chronic pain whether work, sport of hobby related.


Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

This condition as the name suggests is complex. The pain is often constant and of a burning type. The body part affected is often very sensitive to touch and just a stroke can cause pain. There can be changes in temperature and colour of the body part and on occasions growth of excess hair and swelling. The wrist can be affected by this syndrome and the symptoms can extend over the hand and up the arm. The exact cause of it is not clearly known and can happen with no cause but there can be an event before it occurs such as a fracture. ‘The sympathetic nervous system’ has been shown to be involved which controls blood flow and skin temperature.

Physiotherapy can help with this condition by keeping the part of the body affected moving and stop it stiffening up. They can help to use techniques to desensitise the area and acupuncture can help the pain in some cases. Your physiotherapist will also recommend a top Singapore pain consultant to you who can use treatments to block the sympathetic nervous system from firing and provide appropriate medication to help with the pain.


Other possible causes

Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history of your symptoms and past medical history before performing a full physical examination. There are a number of other possible causes of your symptoms which are not appropriate for a physiotherapist to treat in any way or that need a medical opinion alongside physiotherapy treatment. In this case they will recommend you to your GP or an appropriate specialist doctor or specialist consultant. These possible causes include:

  • cardiovascular symptoms
  • respiratory (breathing) symptoms
  • gynaecological symptoms
  • urinary or genital symptoms
  • digestive symptoms
  • immune system symptoms
  • lymph system symptoms
  • hormonal symptoms
  • neurological symptoms
  • dermatological (skin) symptoms
  • medication side-effects
  • virus
  • infection
  • cancer
  • disease process
  • psychological problem ie. depression, anxiety

Osteoarthritis of the thumb:

The base of the thumb can commonly become stiff and painful with gripping, pinching and lifting activity. Osteoarthritis commonly affects an older population but can occur earlier with excessive lifting or trauma that may change the joint loading and therefore the cartilage health. Pain is usually aching in nature but can be sharp and localised to the base of the thumb and wrist.

Physiotherapy techniques such as specialised splinting, both functional and resting splints can be useful in managing symptoms. Likewise, taping techniques, soft tissue release, joint mobilisations and targeted strengthening can provide symptom relief. For persistent pain, acupuncture can provide pain relief.


Wrist fracture (distal radius):

A fall on an outstretched hand can cause fracturing of the wrist bones. One fracture is known as a ‘colles fracture’ which gives the wrist a dinnerfork like looking deformity. Commonly this requires plaster immobilisation and ultimately the wrist becomes stiff from this period of immobility. As the bones heal it is imperative that normal movement patterns are restored as well as normal flexibility and strength.

Techniques such as joint mobilisations, mobilisations with movement, specific soft tissue release techniques and joint strengthening exercises can be effectively used by your physiotherapist to achieved normal movement and functional use of the wrist in daily activities.


Scaphoid fracture:

The scaphoid bone is found at the base of the thumb near the wrist joint. It is a small bone held tightly between the long bones of the fingers and the wrist. With trauma to the wrist and heavy falls it can be injured or even fractured. This results in wrist pain and sometimes thumb pain that can be severe. This injury is sometimes missed in X-Ray investigation initially due to the nature of the injury and small size of the bone.

Your physiotherapist can assess the injury and identify any local scaphoid injury, directing you to the appropriate and best course of treatment. Taping techniques, mobilisations and splinting can be utilised to reduce pain and aid in healing.


Wrist impaction syndrome

Impaction describes the bones being impacted into each other and can affect a number of bones in the wrist and hand. It is usually related to repetition of weight bearing activities, ie golf, racquet sports, weight lifting or gymnastics.

Your physiotherapist can help you to manage the problem and avoid the aggravating factors. Anti-inflammatory advice is often given. Surgery is only required when the injury is extensive. We can recommend a top Singapore hand and wrist consultant in this case.


De Quervains tendinopathy:

The tendons that run into the thumb run in a sheath to protect them and ensure smooth and efficient movement across the wrist bones. These tendons can become inflamed, degenerate and painful after periods of unaccustomed repetitive such as painting and decorating. New mothers can be susceptible due to the repetitive nature of picking up and lifting a newborn baby. The pain can be sharp over the outer wrist and base of the thumb, normally can be reproduced by feeling and often there is crepitus or ‘crunching’ as the thumb is moved.

Physiotherapy can be highly effective in reducing symptoms of De Quervains tendinopathy by introducing specialised splinting, active rest, advice and activity modification advice, graduated loading exercises and acupuncture.


Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis is when the immune system goes haywire and attacks the body rather than defending it causing inflammation of the lining of the joints and tendons of the muscles. In both conditions joints in the body that have the arthritis become swollen, painful and stiff. Morning stiffness on waking is very common. Muscles around the joints often become weaker and doing certain activities of daily living can become more difficult.

We can provide experienced physiotherapists to see you at home and work with you to help manage your condition. The first time the physiotherapist visits they will carry out a thorough assessment which includes looking at your mobility and walking aids, muscle strength, joint movement, posture and function. Following the assessment the physiotherapist will discuss any treatments they can provide and set goals with you to improve your general function and mobility and achieve the maximum potential in your home, work and social life. These treatments can include advice on ice, exercise programmes, massage, taping, acupuncture and mobility programmes.

We can also provide occupational therapists to come to your home. They help people to regain the ability to carry out activities that have purpose and meaning to them and become or remain as independent as possible. Some of the services they can offer include:

  • Home assessments including modifications such as rearranging furniture, building ramps, widening doorways, grab bars, special toilet seats etc
  • Wheelchair assessments
  • Splinting

Chronic Pain

Acute pain is the pain we feel immediately after injuring ourselves and while the injury is healing. Chronic pain is pain that continues even though healing has occurred and it is not unusual to find no direct link between the pain and the original injury that may have healed a long time ago. Chemical changes happen in the brain and spinal cord to re-route signals to pain centres in the brain. Then any normal sensation such as a movement, touch, pressure, stretching etc can be felt as pain. In some instances the pain system can be activated without any physical stimulus ie changes in weather, mood, thoughts or no stimulus at all.

Physiotherapy for chronic pain has to involve many aspects and address other factors that come into play rather than just the pain itself. They will treat the pain and also use methods to help you manage your pain including advice on pacing and coping with flare ups and negative thoughts, graduated exercise programmes and goal setting. They will aim to return to you being able to participate again in activities you were involved in before developing chronic pain whether work, sport of hobby related. We can also can recommend a top Singapore pain consultant who can help you.


Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

This condition as the name suggests is complex. The pain is often constant and of a burning type. The body part affected is often very sensitive to touch and just a stroke can cause pain. There can be changes in temperature and colour of the body part and on occasions growth of excess hair and swelling. The wrist can be affected by this syndrome and the symptoms can extend up the arm or over the hand. The exact cause of it is not clearly known and can happen with no cause but there can be an event before it occurs such as a fracture. ‘The sympathetic nervous system’ has been shown to be involved which controls blood flow and skin temperature.

Physiotherapy can help with this condition by keeping the part of the body affected moving and stop it stiffening up. They can help to use techniques to desensitise the area and acupuncture can help the pain in some cases. Your physiotherapist will also recommend a top Singapore pain consultant to you who can use treatments to block the sympathetic nervous system from firing and provide appropriate medication to help with the pain.


Other possible causes

Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history of your symptoms and past medical history before performing a full physical examination. There are a number of other possible causes of your symptoms which are not appropriate for a physiotherapist to treat in any way or that need a medical opinion alongside physiotherapy treatment. In this case they will recommend you to your GP or an appropriate specialist doctor or specialist consultant. These possible causes include:

  • cardiovascular symptoms
  • respiratory (breathing) symptoms
  • gynaecological symptoms
  • urinary or genital symptoms
  • digestive symptoms
  • immune system symptoms
  • lymph system symptoms
  • hormonal symptoms
  • neurological symptoms
  • dermatological (skin) symptoms
  • medication side-effects
  • virus
  • infection
  • cancer
  • disease process
  • psychological problem ie. depression, anxiety

Contact Us

Please get in touch for more information about our products and services.

    Your Therapists

    Rebecca AldridgeRehab & Exercise Specialist, Bone Conditioning Expert & Massage Therapist
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    Rebecca started Health2u in Singapore following the success of Physiocomestoyou Ltd in London and the UK which is still running strong. Both companies were developed to address the gap in the market for a professional service providing physiotherapy, massage and exercise to people at home and work. Rebecca has over 16 years of physiotherapy experience having qualified in 2002 and spent 7 years within teaching hospitals and at the same time completed a Masters in Advanced Physiotherapy. She is also trained in acupuncture, pilates and exercise rehab particulary of the pre natal and post natal exercise. Having a baby in Singapore Bex set up the Health2Mama branch of Health2u having realised the huge benefits of having a service that comes to you after birth and helps with things such as massage, breast massage to help milk supply, advice on feeding and lifting techniques around the home to help prevent back pain and chest tightness. This led to ‘The Recovery Session’ Being developed. There is also the Exercise programmes Rebecca has developed to help mothers correct any diastasis recti and get back to being fit, toned and their ideal weight again after birth while ensuring good pelvic floor control and protection of the diastasis recti. The sessions can be individual or of small groups of other mothers at your condo or home

    Services

    care of the older
    older person's therapy
    bone conditioning programme
    business
    deep tissue massage
    sports massage
    exercise and rehab programmes
    osteoporosis programmes
    neurological services
    falls prevention programmes
    hold back parkinsons exercise
    massage
    pilates
    vestibular rehabilitation
    workstation assessment
    personal training
    ergonomic presentations
    swedish massage
    Laura O'ByrneSpecialist Senior Physiotherapist
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    Laura owns and runs Health2u with Bex Aldridge. She has worked in various clinical settings in both the United Kingdom and Singapore, where she spent three years at Jurong Health hospitals working in neuro-rehabilitation, geriatric, acute orthopaedic and musculo-skeletal departments. Laura has a very fun and lively manner which helps to motivate clients to exercise and participate in their physiotherapy. She is also a certified dry needling practitioner. Laura is one of our experts in pre and postnatal physiotherapy to relieve low back pain, sacroiliac pain and other pains associated with pregnancy. She also is experienced in correcting a Diastasis Recti and helping restore bladder control with pelvic floor exercises. She specialises in designing and putting programmes of physiotherapy into practice: therapeutic exercise; manipulations; massage; education; the use of electro-therapeutic and other modalities, with a focus on being active. She is also an experienced ergonomics assessor, on which subject she oversees set-ups and delivers talks. In her spare time, Laura enjoys Pilates, going to the gym and exploring South East Asia

    Services

    baby massage
    breastfeeding relief
    fit mama exercise and nutrition
    pre and post natal massage
    pre and post natal physio
    diastasis recti correction
    care of the older
    neurological physiotherapy
    older person's therapy
    women's health physiotherapy
    services for pain and injury
    acupuncture
    bone conditioning programme
    business
    care homes
    deep tissue massage
    sports massage
    musculoskeletal and sports
    exercise and rehab programmes
    kinesiology taping
    osteoporosis programmes
    rheumatology physiotherapy
    sports physiotherapy
    neurological services
    falls prevention programmes
    physio after surgery
    physio for pain
    post surgery
    cardiac rehab
    oncology physiotherapy
    massage
    pilates
    workstation assessment
    ergonomic presentations
    womens health physiotherapy
    womens health & paediatric
    shockwave therapy for pain
    chest physiotherapy
    golf fitness assessments
    Dr Aruna Vijaya RatnamAHPC Registered Physiotherapist
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    Dr Aruna Vijaya Ratnam was awarded the Mid-term scholarship in 2012 and graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 with her Bachelor of Physiotherapy. She then went on to complete her Clinical Doctorate in Physical therapy with Nova Southeastern University in 2018. She is also a certified lymphodema and wound management therapist by the International Lymphodema and Wound Training Institute. Dr Aruna joined Juronghealth Services in 2014 where she has been specializing in rehabilitation. Having managed the Day Rehabilitation centre at Jurong Community Hospital for 1.5 years she is well versed in managing patients requiring rehabilitation for orthopaedic, neurological, geriatric and women’s health conditions. Moreover while persuing her bachelor’s degree Dr Aruna had the opportunity to work with and learn from the women’s health physiotherapists at the Mater Women’s and children’s hospital where she gained experience and knowledge working with pre-natal and post-natal mums, baby massage and healing of the diastesis recti and developed a love with working with these mums. Dr Aruna is passionate about rehabilitating patients with an orthopaedic condition and has been co-leading the Jurong Community Hospital’s inpatient orthopaedic team. She is a certified Clinical Educator with the Singapore Institute of Technology and provides regular teaching and training sessions for both student physiotherapists and junior physiotherapists. She has given regular continuing medical education (CME) talks on hip fracture and rehabilitation and she was part of the Hip integrated care pathway team that was awarded the NUHS-MOCHTAR RIADY PINNACLE AWARDS in 2019. She has also initiated Total knee replacement classes in both the acute and community settings that patients have enjoyed. Dr Aruna is a passionate, dedicated and personable physiotherapist who always seeks to give her best to helping her patients achieve their desired outcomes.

    Services

    breastfeeding relief
    fit mama exercise and nutrition
    pre and post natal massage
    pre and post natal physio
    diastasis recti correction
    care of the older
    neurological physiotherapy
    older person's therapy
    patient feedback
    services for pain and injury
    care homes
    deep tissue massage
    sports massage
    musculoskeletal and sports
    exercise and rehab programmes
    kinesiology taping
    osteoporosis programmes
    rheumatology physiotherapy
    sports physiotherapy
    neurological services
    falls prevention programmes
    hold back parkinsons exercise
    physio after surgery
    physio for pain
    post surgery
    amputees
    massage
    swedish massage
    womens health physiotherapy
    womens health & paediatric
    Katie FraineRehab Specialist & Massage Specialist
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    Katie qualified as a physiotherapist in the United Kingdom in 2008 with a First Class Bachelors Honour Degree. Working in both the National Health Service and private hospital settings, Katie has specialised as a senior physiotherapist and developed a greater love for Musculoskeletal outpatients, Orthopaedics, Elderly Rehabilitation and Women’s Health. Katie had her first child in 2015, which steered her to focus her career within Women’s Health Physiotherapy. Specifically with helping pre and post natal mothers to participate-in safe and correct physical exercise, massage, correcting Diastasis Recti, baby massage and assessing lifting, carrying, feeding techniques of Mother and baby to prevent injuries. Another love of Katie’s is creating and leading baby sensory and activity classes to stimulate and enhance babies development and bond between Mother and child. In her spare time she loves to spend quality time with her family of four, exploring Asia and participating in CrossFit. Katie has a friendly, warm, welcoming smile and manner. She is committed, hardworking and has a great passion for helping people.

    Services

    baby massage
    breastfeeding relief
    fit mama exercise and nutrition
    diastasis recti correction
    bone conditioning programme
    deep tissue massage
    sports massage
    exercise and rehab programmes
    falls prevention programmes
    hold back parkinsons exercise
    massage
    pilates
    personal training
    swedish massage
    womens health physiotherapy
    womens health & paediatric
    Jing-Yi YapAHPC Registered Physiotherapist
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    Jing Yi graduated from Nanyang Polytechnic in 2012 and attained her Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy (Hons) from Trinity College Dublin in 2013. She has been working with JurongHealth since 2012, specializing in musculoskeletal physiotherapy including work-related and post-operative conditions. She is also certified in Dry Needling and Kinesio Taping 1 & 2. Jing Yi has a keen interest in spinal and lower limb conditions, with a particular focus on active rehabilitation and injury prevention. She is also part of the medical team providing physiotherapy service at the Games Medical Centre for the recent 28th SEA Games Singapore 2015 and 8th ASEAN Para Games 2015. In her free time, Jing Yi enjoys gymming, yoga and traveling.

    Services

    care of the older
    neurological physiotherapy
    older person's therapy
    services for pain and injury
    acupuncture
    bone conditioning programme
    care homes
    sports massage
    musculoskeletal and sports
    exercise and rehab programmes
    kinesiology taping
    osteoporosis programmes
    rheumatology physiotherapy
    sports physiotherapy
    neurological services
    falls prevention programmes
    hold back parkinsons exercise
    physio after surgery
    physio for pain
    post surgery
    amputees
    cardiac rehab
    oncology physiotherapy
    massage
    Ezora WongAHPC Registered Physiotherapist
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    Ezora is a Certified physiotherapist since 2012.  She first worked with Jurong Health establishing the rehab protocols and workflow for the critically ill patients of ICU.  Ezora then became a certified clinical educator training students in both (musculokskeletal) pain relief and sports physio over the years at Jurong Health.  She decided to pursue her interest in the musculoskeletal and sports side of physiotherapy by becoming a physio for the student athletes during the Annual University Games from 2015-2019 & Singapore Male and Female football teams whilst working privately for a clinic. Throughout the years of rehabilitating clients she developed a strong interest in using a number of her combined skills as a musculoskeletal physio and sports physio to treat pain that has developed in any area of the body and also during pregnancy and after birth; she is great at prescribing exercises that effectively build strength in the core and throughout the body. She also has a great reputation for her massage techniques and hands on manual therapy treatments. Through her experience with sports teams she developed a lot of practice in Kinesiology taping, rehab techniques and strengthening and she is also undertaking regular courses with the Australia Physiotherapy Association (APA) to continuously upgrade her skills in treating women at different life stages. Ezora can speak fluid English and Cantonese and as a person Ezora is well liked being kind, considerate and very dedicated to her clients.

    Services

    breastfeeding relief
    fit mama exercise and nutrition
    pre and post natal massage
    pre and post natal physio
    diastasis recti correction
    care of the older
    neurological physiotherapy
    older person's therapy
    patient feedback
    services for pain and injury
    acupuncture
    bone conditioning programme
    business
    care homes
    sports massage
    musculoskeletal and sports
    exercise and rehab programmes
    kinesiology taping
    osteoporosis programmes
    rheumatology physiotherapy
    sports physiotherapy
    neurological services
    falls prevention programmes
    hold back parkinsons exercise
    physio after surgery
    physio for pain
    post surgery
    oncology physiotherapy
    massage
    pilates
    womens health physiotherapy
    womens health & paediatric
    Aneesa AnsariSpecialist Paediatric Physiotherapist
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    Aneesa is a fully registered paediatric physiotherapist with 7 years of experience. She has vast experience dealing with children from infant to young adults with various needs and abilities. She has interned with KKH and worked closely with NUH in the children’s clinic with NUH paediatric doctors. She also has immense experience with community rehabilitation for children. Early intervention with Thye Hwa Kwan EPIC as well as school integration and home-based therapy services with AWWA have helped to enhance her knowledge and skill in this field. She has given talks in hospitals such as Ren Ci and Tertiary Institutions to both public, parents and teachers/educators. Aneesa completed her Diploma in Physiotherapy locally before graduating from Queen Margaret University, Edinburg with a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy degree. She has enrolled to complete her Masters in Paediatric Physiotherapy with Monash University, Australia. She continues to upgrade her skills by attending to relevant paediatric courses regularly. She is registered with AHPC and Singapore Physiotherapy Association. Aneesa has experience with a wide spectrum of disorders ranging from neurological conditions like Cerebral Palsy to congenital conditions like SMA, DMD as well as rare disorders like Charcot Marie Tooth and various syndromes. Having a child of her own enables Aneesa to understand challenges face by parents and treat their bubs as her own with patience and love.

    Services

    pre and post natal physio
    care of the older
    neurological physiotherapy
    older person's therapy
    patient feedback
    paediatric physiotherapy
    women's health physiotherapy
    Noopura YeliurPhysiotherapist Specialising in Rehab and Massage
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    Noopura is a physiotherapist of over 12 years qualifying in 2009 and continuing on to complete a with a Masters Degree in Clinical Exercise Science at Melbourne Victoria University.  Her main interests are Massage, Sports Massage and Rehabilitation using her knowledge of her Masters to make her treatments more effective.   She has worked in various clinical settings including both hospital environments, clinics and at peoples homes. Noop is a motivated and personable therapist which helps to motivate clients to exercise and participate in their rehab. She is also kind and calm helping clients to feel comfortable and relaxed in her care. She specialises in designing and putting programmes of rehab into practice: therapeutic exercise; massage; education with a focus on being active.

    Services

    fit mama exercise and nutrition
    pre and post natal massage
    diastasis recti correction
    care of the older
    older person's therapy
    patient feedback
    bone conditioning programme
    deep tissue massage
    sports massage
    exercise and rehab programmes
    osteoporosis programmes
    falls prevention programmes
    hold back parkinsons exercise
    post surgery
    oncology physiotherapy
    massage
    pilates
    workstation assessment
    ergonomic presentations
    chest physiotherapy
    golf fitness assessments
    Yoon Wai LamConsultant Speech and Language Therapist
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    Wai Lam has more than 10 years of experience working with both adults with speech-language and swallowing disorders as well as children with speech-language disorders.
    He began his career in Singapore General Hospital (SGH) in year 2001. In year 2006, he moved on  to provide locum services to the community hospitals (St Luke’s Hospital, Bright Vision Hospital) and private hospitals. He continued to serve SGH as a Locum Senior Speech Therapist until December 2009. In year 2008, he joined National University of Singapore as a Part-time Lecturer in the Masters in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) programme.
    Throughout his 10 years of practise, he has developed training programmes and conducted various workshops both local and overseas. He has trained many Speech Therapists and Speech Therapist students into conducting Clinical Bedside Swallowing Evaluation, Videofluoroscopy, Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing and dysphagia management. He is often consulted upon by his peers and doctors for complex cases involving dysphagia. He also pioneered the running of the very first and only Prosthetic Speech and Swallowing Clinic (PSSR) in Singapore at the National Dental Centre with a Consultant Prosthodontist. Wai Lam has assisted St Luke’s hospital into setting up FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing) services. St Luke’s Hospital is the first Community Hospital to provide FEES services in Singapore.
    Wai Lam has been a member of the Speech and Hearing Association of Singapore (SHAS), a professional body for Speech and Language Therapists, since 2001. He is proficient in English and Malay both for written and spoken language, and is conversant in Mandarin and Cantonese.

    Services

    neurological services
    speech and language therapy
    Mok Ying RongAHPC Registered Physiotherapist
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    Ying Rong graduated from Queen Margaret University with a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy, and is a certified physiotherapist with 4 years of experience in acute hospital and clinic setting, specializing in post-surgery, sports injury, elderly and clients in pain. While at Farrer Park Hospital she provided quality care for both inpatient and outpatients of all age groups and diverse conditions including joint trauma, degenerative conditions, spinal infections, nerve injuries, fractures and amputations. Ying Rong is passionate about rehabilitating patients with musculoskeletal and neurological issues back to pain-free status and currently sees a mixture of post-surgery and musculoskeletal patients in the comfort of their own homes. Ying Rong is a National distance runner and holds the record for the Singapore Half Marathon. With a keen interest in running she has spearheaded a running gait analysis program.

    Services

    care of the older
    neurological physiotherapy
    older person's therapy
    services for pain and injury
    acupuncture
    bone conditioning programme
    care homes
    musculoskeletal and sports
    exercise and rehab programmes
    kinesiology taping
    osteoporosis programmes
    rheumatology physiotherapy
    sports physiotherapy
    neurological services
    falls prevention programmes
    hold back parkinsons exercise
    physio after surgery
    physio for pain
    post surgery
    amputees
    cardiac rehab
    oncology physiotherapy
    pilates
    personal training
    chest physiotherapy
    golf fitness assessments