Occupational Therapy for Thumb Tendonitis

Thumb tendinitis refers to inflammation of a tendon in the thumb and can be caused by repetitive movements and injury. Occupational therapy is often recommended in conjunction with anti-inflammatory medications to relieve symptoms such as pain, swelling, limited movement and numbness.

Benefits

• Occupational therapy for thumb tendonitis can provide pain relief through various strengthening exercises and the use of special immobilizing thumb splints. In addition, the occupational therapist can provide the patient with a series of exercises to perform at home to further promote healing.

Function

• The function of an occupational therapist is to determine the patient's level of mobility and injury, thereby developing an appropriate therapeutic treatment plan. In addition, occupational therapy protocol usually includes that the therapist periodically submit his report to the attending physician so medical treatments such as pharmaceutical regimens can be adjusted to the patient's progress.

Warning

• Although occupational therapy for thumb tendonitis is an effective treatment option for relieving pain and restoring mobility, it does not always produce complete resolution of the condition. Sometimes surgical intervention is needed to repair tendons and surrounding structures to gain optimal working function.