Tanya Coats Occupational Therapy
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Advice from a Certified Hand Therapist: Woodworking Hand Injuries Woodworking is a skill that requires precision and patience. Strong, functional hands are crucial to woodworking and it is important to protect them from potentially dangerous tools and accidents. Knowing the basic anatomy of the human hand and becoming familiar with symptoms for common conditions can …
A sprained thumb is a common injury among athletes. This injury happens when an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) — tough and flexible tissue that connect bones in the thumb — gets stretched too far or tears. This injury is sometimes called “skier’s thumb” because skiers are prone to this injury when they fall with their …
A common cause of flexor tendon ruptures is usually sports related injuries. This can happen through innocuous incidents such as when a footy player’s finger gets caught in a jumper while trying to tackle an opponent (commonly referred to as a Jersey Injury). Open lacerations can make the tendon incision a little more obvious however, …
Roller skating, roller blading, scooters and skateboards – a few tips on how to avoid injuries. What new hobby have you picked up? As you can see I started roller skating and roller hockey. And I know I’m not alone – I’ve seen a lot of people coming through the clinic who have started or …
As Hand Therapists we see that within this non-contact sport it’s common for professional and amateur cricketers to injure their hands. The most common hand injuries in cricket are finger dislocation, fractured bones or sprained wrist. Because hand injuries can impact your field time here are some handy tips for you and ways that we can help. Top …
Netball is one of the most popular women’s participation sports in South Africa. Finger and thumb injuries are amongst the most common problems experienced by netball players. Quite often I hear netballers say, ‘I just jarred my finger, it will be alright’. However, as a hand therapist, I know that this isn’t always the case. A jarred …
Have you ever jarred your finger playing basketball? Got it caught in a guernsey? Knocked it in a guernsey? These injuries can STING and make it hard to tell what level of care you need. Sometimes, a little bit of first aid – ice, compression, rest, tape – is enough. Other times, these injuries need …
I hurt my finger playing sport – when should I see a hand therapist? Read More »
Fireworks are a fascinating and fun part of holiday celebrations throughout the country. Unfortunately, this popular tradition is also associated with injuries that are all too common among both adults and children. Each year, it is estimated that over 10,000 fireworks-related injuries occur in the United States and at least 40% of these injuries involve the …
A “jersey finger” gets its name from, you guessed it, a sports jersey! Jersey fingers are a casual name for the disruption of a tendon in the finger, often times caused by gripping someone’s jersey with a clenched hand during a game while that person runs in the opposite direction. The force can cause your …
Hand surgeon Thomas R. Boyce, MD discusses why your fingers may be stiff and how to treat them. Stiff fingers can be very troublesome. Your hands and fingers are vital tools with which you interact with the world. Without normal use of your hands and fingers, activities including household tasks, work, hobbies, and sports all …