Wrist and hand pain

Physiotherapy Plateau Mont-Royal

Pain in the wrist, hand, or fingers can quickly limit simple daily tasks, work, and sports. At Physio Plateau, our physiotherapists on the Plateau Mont-Royal assess the real cause of your pain and support you with a precise, progressive treatment plan tailored to your activities.

Make an appointment

Why consult?

Physiotherapy, your best ally

Wrist and hand pain can originate from a joint, tendon, ligament, nerve, muscle, or repetitive overload. Since the hand is used almost constantly, minor irritation can quickly become persistent if not properly managed.

The wrist and hand form a very intricate biomechanical region: mobility, stability, grip strength, sensation, coordination, and motor control must all work together. Pain in this area can therefore have a disproportionate impact on independence, productivity, and quality of life.

At Physio Plateau, your physiotherapist assesses not only the painful area but also the forearm, elbow, shoulder, work posture, and the movements that trigger your symptoms. This comprehensive approach helps target the cause of the problem rather than simply relieving pain temporarily.

Early management often helps reduce inflammation, restore mobility, regain strength, and resume activities without worsening symptoms.

More than 20

small joints work together in the hand and wrist to provide precision, strength, and mobility

The hand is one of the most used parts of the body on a daily basis: keyboard, phone, manual work, sports, and household tasks

100%

treatment plans are tailored to your tasks, work, leisure activities, and functional goals

Our areas of expertise

Examples of wrist and hand conditions we treat

Our physiotherapists assess and treat all types of wrist, hand, and finger pain: traumatic, tendinous, joint-related, nerve-related, post-operative, sports-related, or work-related.

VERY FREQUENT

WRIST TENDINITIS AND TENDINOPATHY

Pain related to irritation of the forearm or wrist tendons, often aggravated by repetitive movements, keyboard use, mouse use, tools, sports, or lifting. Treatment aims to manage load, restore mobility, and progressively strengthen the irritated structures.

NERVE-RELATED

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Compression or irritation of the median nerve that can cause numbness, tingling, nighttime pain, or loss of strength in the hand. Physiotherapy helps identify contributing factors, improve nerve mobility, reduce pain, decrease mechanical stress, and restore function.

TRAUMATIC

WRIST OR FINGER SPRAIN

Ligament injury caused by a fall, twist, impact, or forced movement. Pain may be accompanied by swelling, stiffness, and loss of strength. Treatment aims to protect the area, regain mobility, restore stability, and resume activities without recurrence.

THUMB / GRIP

DE QUERVAIN’S TENOSYNOVITIS

Irritation of the thumb tendons on the outer edge of the wrist. It can be aggravated by phone use, carrying a child, pinching movements, manual work, or repetitive gestures. Physiotherapy combines activity advice, manual therapy, and progressive strengthening.

JOINT-RELATED

OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE THUMB, WRIST, OR FINGERS

Stiffness, mechanical pain, loss of grip strength, or discomfort during pinching movements. Even though osteoarthritis does not disappear, symptoms can often be improved through education, targeted exercises, activity modification, and functional recovery.

INSTABILITÉ ET DOULEUR

LÉSION DU FIBROCARTILAGE (TFCC)

Le TFCC stabilise et amortit les contraintes du poignet. Sa lésion, causée par une chute, un choc ou un effort de torsion répété, provoque une douleur au poignet sur le côté du petit doigt et une perte de force. Le traitement vise à stabiliser l’articulation et à réadapter le poignet aux gestes du quotidien.

POST-TRAUMATIC

WRIST OR FINGER FRACTURE

Whether it is a distal radius fracture or a scaphoid fracture, wrist trauma often requires a period of immobilization. After a fracture, wearing a splint or cast, the hand and wrist can become stiff, weak, and sensitive. Physiotherapy management promotes the return of mobility, strength, coordination, and confidence in using the hand.

NEUROLOGICAL / RADIATING

NUMBNESS AND RADIATING PAIN

Tingling in the hand can sometimes originate from the wrist (as in Guyon’s canal, which often affects the last two fingers), but also from the elbow, shoulder, or neck. A physiotherapy assessment helps distinguish local irritation from referred pain or more widespread nerve involvement.

HAND MOBILITY

FINGER INJURY

The fingers are constantly used and subject to various traumas or mechanical wear. Whether it is a tendon rupture, Dupuytren’s disease, trigger finger, pulley injury, or muscle injury, these conditions often cause pain, locking, or loss of strength. Management aims to protect the affected structures, restore mobility, and return the hand to full daily functionality.

MAKE A APPOINTEMENT

When to consult?

Recognizing symptoms that require consultation

Wrist or hand pain warrants an assessment when it limits your movements, persists despite rest, or returns as soon as you resume your activities.

PERSISTENT PAIN

Pain that lasts more than a few days or returns as soon as you use your hand.

NUMBNESS

Tingling, pins and needles, or loss of sensation in the fingers or palm.

LOSS OF STRENGTH

Difficulty holding an object, opening a jar, shaking hands, or lifting a load.

JOINT STIFFNESS

Limitation in bending, extending, or rotating the wrist, thumb, or fingers.

KEYBOARD PAIN

Discomfort that increases with computer use, mouse use, writing, or phone use.

SWELLING

Visible swelling, local warmth, or tenderness to pressure after exertion or trauma.

NOCTURNAL PAIN

Pain, numbness, or discomfort that wakes you during the night.

LOCKING OR TRIGGERING

A sensation of catching, painful clicking, or difficulty moving a finger normally.

Our approach

A rigorous 5-step clinical process

At Physio Plateau, every wrist or hand pain is carefully assessed to connect your symptoms to your movements, environment, and functional goals.

Comprehensive assessment of the wrist, hand, and upper limb

Your physiotherapist analyzes the history of the pain, painful movements, grip strength, and mobility of the wrist, fingers, thumb, elbow, shoulder, and neck. Work, sports, and daily life movements are also observed to understand what is maintaining your symptoms.

Physiotherapy diagnosis & explanation

After the assessment, your physiotherapist explains the structures likely involved, the factors irritating the area, and the recovery mechanisms. This understanding helps avoid aggravating movements without unnecessarily immobilizing the hand.

Personalized treatment plan

The plan is tailored to your condition, profession, leisure activities, and goals. It may include mobility exercises, strengthening, motor control, ergonomic adjustments, and strategies for gradually returning to tasks.

Active and manual treatment in the clinic

Sessions may combine manual therapy, myofascial techniques, specific exercises, grip work, education, and functional progression. The goal is to relieve pain while restoring the hand’s load capacity and precision.

Return to activities and prevention of recurrence

The final phase prepares your wrist and hand for real-world demands: computer, tools, music, household tasks, manual work, or training. You leave with concrete guidelines to manage load and prevent recurrence.

Prepare your visit

To consider before your first visit

Treatment for hand and wrist pain is based on a personalized approach aimed at treating the cause of the problem, not just the symptoms.

Wear clothing that allows easy examination of the wrist, hand, forearm, elbow, and shoulder.
Bring any available results: X-rays, ultrasound, medical report, diagnosis, surgery, or recent immobilization.
Indicate any medications currently being taken, as well as treatments already tried.
If relevant, bring your splint, mouse, photos of your workstation, tools, instrument, or sports equipment.

Each treatment plan is tailored to your reality, whether your goal is a return to daily function or a return to sport.

Our team

Our therapists offering
this service

Rémi Grandhomme – Lauren Quigley – Zoé Nguyen-Bergeron – Emmanuelle Harris Ranger – Myriam Lafrance – Guillaume Hohly – Olivier Benoit

MAKE A APPOINTEMENT

Frequently asked questions

Everything you want to know about wrist and hand physiotherapy

Can physiotherapy really treat wrist or hand pain?

Yes. Physiotherapy is useful for several wrist, hand, and finger conditions: tendinitis, sprains, stiffness, grip pain, work-related pain, certain nerve compressions, and recovery after immobilization. The goal is to identify the responsible factors, reduce irritation, and progressively restore function.

Do I need a medical prescription to consult?

No. In Quebec, you can see a physiotherapist through direct access, without a medical referral.

How many sessions are needed for wrist or hand pain?

It depends on the cause, how long the symptoms have been present, your type of work, and your goals. Recent irritation can sometimes progress quickly with the right advice and exercises, while a chronic, post-traumatic, or post-operative condition requires a more structured progression.

Do I need to completely stop using the computer, playing sports, or doing manual work?

Not necessarily. In many cases, it is better to temporarily adjust the load rather than stop completely. Your physiotherapist will help you modify intensity, frequency, posture, tools, and breaks so you can continue your activities more safely.

Does numbness in the fingers always come from carpal tunnel syndrome?

No. Numbness can come from carpal tunnel syndrome, but also from the neck, shoulder, elbow, or other nerve irritation. The assessment helps identify the likely origin of the symptoms and guide treatment appropriately.

Ice or heat for wrist pain?

Ice can be useful when there is recent pain, a sensation of heat, or swelling. Heat is sometimes more comfortable for stiffness or chronic pain. The choice depends on your condition; your physiotherapist can guide you based on your clinical signs.

Consult us quickly if...

You can no longer use your hand or put weight on your wrist after a fall or direct impact.
Your wrist or hand is very swollen, warm, or shows visible deformity
You feel significant instability or a sensation that the wrist “gives way” when bearing weight or gripping objects.
Pain is present at night or at rest with no obvious mechanical cause
Symptoms persist despite several weeks’ rest