Hand Specialists’ Tips to Avoid Fall Clean-up Hand & Wrist Injury
Maintaining your home and your property is a big job – and fall in Michigan means leaf raking and yard cleanup before the snow arrives. Cleaning the gutters, perennials that need transplanting, and bushes that need trimming all art part of the fall routine of maintaining a home in Michigan.
Every autumn Detroit area board certified hand specialist Dr. Rehman sees a handful of patients who come into our office with injuries to their hands or fingers sustained while raking leaves or cleaning up their yard. Using caution during fall cleanup, and taking steps to prevent hand injuries, can go a long way to keeping everyone safe.
To prevent hand, finger and wrist injuries, Detroit hand specialist Dr. Rehman suggests you adhere to the following safety tips while working in the yard.
Hand Specialists’ Fall Clean Up Safety Tips
#1. Everyone knows that warming up before exercising or athletics helps protect the body from injuries. But most people don’t realize that they should also warm up for at least ten minutes before starting any heavy yard work – including raking, or carrying heavy leaf blowing equipment. Be sure to warm up your hands, wrists and fingers, too before using rakes and yard tools: flex your wrists and fingers and simulate “washing” your hands for several minutes, to loosen muscles and stimulate circulation.
#2. Similarly, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water when raking or working in the yard – just like you would when running or working out. Water helps your body manufacture synovial fluid, which is what keeps your joints flexible and mobile during activities such as yard work.
#3. DON’T use excessive force when grasping yard and gardening tools. Most people grip too tightly, and this puts extra strain on your hands, fingers and wrists. Put foam rubber around gardening tool handles to make them easier to grasp with less stress.
#4. Always wear shoes with slip-resistant soles to avoid slips and falls. Wet leaves can be quite slippery, and footwear with traction can help you keep your balance and avoid a fall. Falls are the number one cause of broken wrists and fingers in adults. People often react to slipping by extending their hand to break their fall – resulting in painful strains or fractures. So avoiding “FOOSH” (fallen onto on outstretched hand) injuries is essential.
To further reduce the risk of falling, do not use a ladder if you take medications that interfere with your balance or cause you to feel dizzy. And make sure the ladder is placed on a level, stable surface – and preferably being held by a friend or family member. Falling from greater heights can result in severe shattering of bones in the fingers, arms and wrist.
#5. Remember to take frequent breaks – preferably breaking larger projects into smaller steps that can be spread out over the course of several days. Hand, finger wrist and joint injuries can be caused by overuse or “overdoing it”.
At the first sign of any numbness, tingling or pain, always stop what you are doing and rest for at least ten minutes. Stretch and flex the affected area, and then resume the task. If the numbness, tingling or pain persists, it’s time to quit for the day to avoid a repetitive motion injury.
How Hand Specialists Treat Fall Wrist & Finger Injury
Because the hand is a delicate instrument with many of bones it is important to seek out the expertise of a hand specialist when treating hand fractures and other injuries. Dr. Rehman will X-ray the area to confirm the location and nature of the injury.
In cases of hand fractures, most cases can be treated by realigning the bones and casting or splinting to immobilize the bones so that healing can take place. In some cases, surgery may be required to set or repair the bone. Temporary or permanent wires, pins, plates or screws may be used to hold the bone in place.
Hand Specialists – Detroit Area
If you have injured your hand, finger(s) or wrist – or are experiencing pain, numbness or tingling, or any other symptoms, contact Detroit area hand specialist Dr. Rehman for a comprehensive evaluation and consultation. As with most medical conditions, early detection and treatment is important to the successful treatment of sprains, fractures and other injuries of the hand, fingers or wrist.
