How to keep your hand clean while it is in a cast... Waterproof Cast Cover available from Bayside Hand Therapy Unless you have been fitted with a waterproof cast, it is important to keep the cast dry. A large plastic bag may be taped onto the arm for showering but for a more reliable way to keep the cast dry, waterproof cast covers are available. To clean your skin above and below the cast, use a wet wipe to avoid any water wetting the cast padding. If you have a synthetic

Joint hypermobility is when a joint can move past the normal range. People used to call this being "double jointed". The extra movement is due to extra loose ligaments around the joint. Ligaments are tough bands of connective tissue that link two bones together at a joint. They strengthen the joint and limit its movement in certain directions. People with hypermobile joints have ligaments which are easily stretched. Having extra loose joints is very common, especially am

Buckle fractures at the wrist (radius and/or ulna) are a common childhood injury. Because children's bones are less brittle than adults' bones, the surface of the bone may 'buckle' instead of the bone breaking right through. Sometimes called Torus fractures, buckle fractures result from compression of a bone, typically from falling on an outstretched hand. It may be difficult to recognize when your child has sustained a buckle fracture as there may be no noticeable deformit

Many people consider osteoarthritis to be an inevitable part of old age. While it certainly does become more common with age and there is currently no cure for osteoarthritis, seeing a hand therapist can help to make living with hand arthritis easier. What is Osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of cartilage, the smooth, flexible coating on the bones where two bones meet to form a joint. Cartilage acts as a shock absorber for our joints and is responsible for the

Handlebar or cyclists' palsy is a condition resulting from compression of a nerve in the front of the wrist. Unlike carpal tunnel syndrome which involves compression of the median nerve in the middle of the wrist, handlebar palsy is a far less common condition involving the ulnar nerve on the little finger side of the wrist. It is also known as Guyon's Canal Syndrome or Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome, as the nerve is compressed as it passes through a narrow space called Guyon's cana

RSI stand for "Repetitive Strain Injury" or "Repetitive Stress Injury"; but RSI is not a single condition. It is an umbrella term used to cover a whole range of injuries which result from repetitive overuse. The term has now been replaced with "cumulative strain disorders". Repetitive strain injury or overuse syndrome as it is also known, may impact on muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Depending on which structures are involved, symptoms may include muscle or tendon

Does a Jarred Finger Need Treatment?

Dupuytren's nodules in line with the ring finger Have you noticed a firm lump or thickened area forming in the palm of your hand? Perhaps it is becoming harder to lay your hand flat, or one or more fingers seem to be slowly curling towards the palm. If this sounds familiar, you may have a condition called Dupuytren’s contracture  — a common yet often misunderstood problem that affects the hand. At Bayside Hand Therapy, we often see people who are concerned about a new lump in

Do you have a finger or thumb which is locking in a bent position? Are you waking in the morning with a stuck finger that is difficult...

Lots of people have heard of carpal tunnel syndrome but you may be wondering what it is. Carpal tunnel syndrome is essentially a...