After a Motor vehicle accident (MVA), the delicate structures of your wrist and hand may suffer significant injuries that impact your ability to perform everyday activities. Motor vehicle accident physiotherapy Sherwood Park concentrates on enhancing strength, flexibility, and function in the affected areas. The targeted rehabilitation program is designed to address specific needs, helping regain mobility and quality of life after a traumatic event. MVA physiotherapy helps patients in receiving a personalized treatment plan that combines therapeutic techniques with practical advice for managing pain and improving hand function.
Rehabilitation Exercises for Wrist and Hand After a Car Accident
Motor vehicle accident physiotherapy in Sherwood Park offers wrist and hand rehabilitation exercises post-car accident, including the benefits of each exercise to aid in a full recovery.
1. Wrist Flexor Stretch
How to Do It:
- Extend your affected arm out in front of you with the palm facing up.
- Use your other hand to softly pull your fingers back toward your body until you feel a stretch in your forearm.
- Maintain for 15-30 seconds, then release.
- Repeat 3-5 times.
Benefit:
The wrist flexor stretch is excellent for improving flexibility in the muscles on the underside of your forearm and wrist. These muscles can become tight after a period of immobility or injury, and this stretch helps relieve tension and prevents stiffness from setting in.
2. Wrist Extensor Stretch
How to Do It:
- Extend your affected arm out in front of you with your palm facing down.
- Utilize your other hand to gently push your fingers down toward the ground until you feel a stretch in the top of your forearm.
- Hold for 15-30 seconds, then release.
- Repeat 3-5 times.
Benefit:
This exercise helps reduce stiffness and improve the range of motion in the wrist joints. Regular practice will enhance flexibility and decrease the risk of further injury. It also promotes blood flow to the wrist, which can speed up the healing process.
3. Grip Strengthening with a Soft Ball
How to Do It:
- Hold a soft, squishy ball in your hand.
- Squeeze the ball tightly for 5-10 seconds, then release.
- Repeat 10-15 times per hand.
Benefit:
Strengthening your grip helps in recovering the muscle tone and endurance lost after an injury. Enhanced grip strength is vital for carrying out numerous daily activities, including lifting objects and driving, ensuring that you can perform these tasks safely and effectively.
4. Thumb Flexion and Extension
How to Do It:
- Hold your hand out with your fingers extended.
- Move your thumb across your palm toward your pinky finger, hold for a second, and then return to the starting position.
- Repeat 10-15 times.
Benefit:
The thumb plays a vital role in almost every hand movement. Thumb flexion and extension exercises help restore dexterity and coordination, especially after a car accident where thumb movement may be compromised due to swelling or trauma. These movements also promote better joint mobility and reduce stiffness.
5. Wrist Circles
How to Do It:
- Extend your arm out in front of you with your hand relaxed.
- Slowly rotate your wrist in circles—10 times in one direction, then ten times in the other.
- Perform 2-3 sets.
Benefit:
Wrist circles are a simple yet effective way to improve your wrist’s range of motion. After a car accident injury, joints can become stiff, and mobility may be limited. Wrist circles help to gently loosen up the joint and increase blood flow to the area, which supports healing and reduces stiffness.
6. Finger Lifts
How to Do It:
- Place your hand flat on a table or other hard surface, with your fingers spread out.
- One by one, lift each finger off the surface as high as you can, then lower it back down.
- Repeat ten times for each finger.
Benefit:
Finger lifts help rebuild strength and coordination in the individual fingers. This is especially important if you suffered a fracture or trauma to any of your fingers. Strengthening each finger individually ensures you’re regaining balanced control and function, which is crucial for activities like typing, gripping, or even texting.
7. Towel Wringing
How to Do It:
- Take a small towel and roll it up.
- Hold the towel at each end and twist it as if you were wringing out water. Twist in both directions—clockwise and counterclockwise.
- Perform ten twists in each direction.
Benefit:
This exercise engages the muscles in your wrists, forearms, and hands. Towel wringing simulates everyday activities and helps build endurance in the muscles, which is critical for preventing fatigue during regular tasks like lifting or gripping objects. Additionally, it promotes better coordination and strength in the wrist.
8. Finger Squeeze and Spread
How to Do It:
- Start with your fingers pressed together in a tight group.
- Spread them as far apart as possible, then squeeze them back together.
- Repeat 10-15 times.
Benefit:
This exercise is great for improving the flexibility and range of motion of your fingers. Finger squeeze and spread movements target the small muscles in your hand, ensuring that you’re not just focusing on wrist recovery but also improving the functionality of your entire hand. This exercise also helps prevent the fingers from becoming stiff or rigid post-injury.
Towards a Complete Recovery:
Recovering from a wrist or hand injury after a car accident is a process that requires time, patience, and dedication. But with the right exercises, you can speed up your recovery, regain mobility, and restore strength to your injured areas. Each of these car accident physiotherapy exercises targets specific muscles or joints to improve flexibility, strength, and coordination, helping you get back to your daily life faster. Our physiotherapist at Emerald Hills Physiotherapy in Sherwood Park ensures the exercises are suitable for your specific injury. Engaging in tailored motor vehicle accident physiotherapy in Sherwood Park significantly enhances your recovery and helps you regain your pre-accident functionality more effectively.
