Kathy Riley |
Women’s hands are rarely still and rarely empty. They are the
first tool a woman employs to fix, fasten, soothe and support. Still,
except for fretting over chipped polish or broken nails, most women
give their hands little thought. Kathy Riley, a physical therapist
specializing in hand care, says taking note of a few simple suggestions
can prevent hand injuries and keep them, well, handy.
Kathy has been a physical therapist for over 15 years. She came from
Texas to join HPT Physical Therapy Services in Charleston after they
advertised nationally for a specialist in hand therapy. She has focused
on orthopedic physical therapy most of her career, but was looking
for the opportunity to redirect her energies to hand care. She says,
“It’s a fascinating area to work with. Each hand has 27
bones, 26 muscles and three major nerves. Even hand surgeons have
remarked that there is more to learn about the hand.”
Her hand patients are often recovering from wrist fractures, repetitive
motion injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome or surgery. Arthritis flare-ups
will also bring a patient in. “In the winter, there will be
elbow, wrist and hand injuries from falls on ice or slippery surfaces.
Strains and sprains are also common in falling.” Treatments
will range from gentle stretching and progressive strength exercises
to paraffin baths. She performs a special massage on hands that have
been traumatized by a crushing injury.
Kathy says one of the things she enjoys about hand therapy is getting
to know the patients better. “Communication seems to open up
when you treat someone’s hand.” She sees patients from
age 7 to 87. “It’s important to adapt to each patient
and make them comfortable. We have to address each person’s
pain level. We find out what activities they want to return to and
assist to restore their function.”
She says, “Persistent aches and pains, especially if they interfere
with work, may benefit from physical therapy. Performing the same
motion over and over using certain grips or types of motion can lead
to pain in muscles and joints.” She suggests moving the hands
and arms slowly, with fluid rather than quick, jerky movements to
reduce wear and tear on the joints and soft tissues. “To prevent
hand pain or injuries, women should interrupt and vary their routine.
They should work with the wrist straight instead of bent and use a
full handgrip rather than thumb and fingers. Overhead lifting should
be avoided and only in reasonable amounts. And, wear gloves! They
can protect the skin from damage, but make sure they fit.”
To keep winter hands hydrated, Kathy recommends soaking hands daily
in lukewarm water for 15 minutes then applying lotion without drying.
“It will rehydrate the tissue.” She says even though women
tend to keep their hands in gear, the best position for long term
hand care is let hands rest in neutral, sitting or standing, keeping
them relaxed and keeping wrists straight.
Kathy developed her interested in orthopedic physical therapy when
she was in a car wreck and sprained her ankle. Her growing new practice
is all about helping hands, hers and those she touches everyday.
Contact Kathy Riley at HPT Physical Therapy Services, 304-746-9200.
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