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Hand Pain

Hand Pain: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and When to See a Physio

Hand pain is a common problem affecting people across all ages — whether from typing, lifting, sports, or arthritis. Because we rely on our hands constantly, even small aches can significantly impact daily activities. Understanding what’s causing your pain is the first step toward lasting recovery — and physiotherapy can help.
One Body LDN therapist guiding patient through hand mobility therapy

What is Hand Pain?

Hand pain refers to discomfort, aching, or stiffness anywhere from the wrist to the fingers. It may come from irritated joints, muscles, tendons, or nerves. A hand pain physio analyses your hand movement, strength, and posture to identify exactly which structures are contributing — then designs a personalised treatment plan to restore comfortable, pain‑free function.

Main Types of Hand Pain

Wrist or Thumb Tendonitis (De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis)

Pain at the thumb side of the wrist, common from repetitive gripping or mobile phone use.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Tingling or numbness in the fingers from compression of a wrist nerve.

Arthritis or Joint Degeneration

Stiffness and ache in finger or wrist joints, often age‑related or post‑injury.

Overuse or Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

Pain building up gradually from typing, handwriting, or manual work.

Referred Pain from Neck or Elbow

Pain travelling into the hand due to nerve or joint irritation higher up the arm.

Post‑Injury or Post‑Surgery Pain

Recovery period after fractures, ligament damage, or hand operations.
Each type requires unique management — professional physiotherapy ensures treatment matches the true underlying cause, not just the symptoms.

Common Causes and Contributing Factors

  • Overuse or repetitive hand and wrist motions
  • Prolonged computer or phone use
  • Poor posture affecting wrist or shoulder mechanics
  • Muscle weakness or imbalance
  • Previous injury or surgery
  • Stress and fatigue leading to increased tension
Often, several mild factors combine — leading to accumulated strain and hand discomfort over time.

Symptoms and What They Mean

Symptoms vary depending on the affected structure but often include:
  • Dull ache or stiffness in fingers, palm, or wrist
  • Sharp pain when gripping or twisting objects
  • Tingling, numbness, or burning sensations
  • Weak grip strength or dropping items
  • Swelling or clicking in the wrist or fingers
  • Pain that worsens with repetitive tasks
A hand pain physiotherapist can pinpoint what’s causing these issues, explain contributing factors, and build a structured recovery plan around your goals.

How Long Does Hand Pain Last?

Acute hand pain (less than 6 weeks) may settle quickly with rest and targeted physiotherapy.

Sub‑acute pain (6–12 weeks) usually benefits from a structured rehabilitation and strengthening programme.

Chronic or persistent pain (12+ weeks) needs a comprehensive approach addressing movement patterns, sensitivity, and lifestyle factors.

Early treatment prevents progression to ongoing stiffness or weakness.

When Hand Pain Needs Urgent Attention (Red Flags)

While most hand pain responds well to physiotherapy, urgent medical attention is required if you notice:
  • Sudden swelling or severe pain after trauma
  • Numbness or weakness worsening suddenly
  • Loss of coordination or finger movement
  • Signs of infection (heat, redness, or fever)
  • Persistent night pain or unexplained deformity
Your physiotherapist can identify when further medical assessment is needed and direct you accordingly.

How Physiotherapists Diagnose Hand Pain

During your consultation, your hand pain physio will:
  • Take a detailed history of your symptoms and activities
  • Test grip strength, joint mobility, and hand coordination
  • Examine wrist, elbow, and shoulder mechanics
  • Perform nerve and tendon function tests
  • Evaluate posture and repetitive‑strain triggers
If necessary, your physiotherapist will refer you for imaging (ultrasound, X‑ray, or MRI) and integrate those findings into your treatment plan collaboratively with your GP or specialist.

Physiotherapy Treatment for Hand Pain

Physiotherapy is one of the most effective, evidence‑based approaches for hand pain. Treatment typically includes:

Hands‑On Physiotherapy

Joint mobilisation, tendon gliding, and soft‑tissue release to ease stiffness and improve motion.

Exercise Therapy

Specific strengthening for the wrist, fingers, and forearm muscles to restore balance and control.

Movement Retraining

Guidance on optimal wrist and hand mechanics during typing, gym work, or lifting.

Rehabilitation Programmes

Tailored recovery plans to restore grip strength, flexibility, and prevent recurrence.
Advanced physiotherapy options like dry needling, shockwave therapy, or functional hand exercises may be added for optimal results.

How Physiotherapy Helps Long Term

The aim isn’t just short‑term pain relief — it’s lasting movement confidence. Professional physiotherapy helps to:
  • Restoring joint mobility and tendon health
  • Improving grip strength and dexterity
  • Reducing nerve sensitivity and inflammation
  • Preventing recurrence with ergonomic advice
  • Supporting return to sport, desk work, or manual tasks
A qualified hand pain physiotherapist also helps you understand your condition, rebuild strength, and regain confidence using your hands for everyday activities.

When to See a Physio

It’s important to book an assessment if:
  • Pain lasts beyond a few days or recurs frequently
  • Typing, gripping, or lifting make symptoms worse
  • You wake at night due to hand or wrist pain
  • Over‑the‑counter treatments aren’t helping
  • You’re unsure which activities might aggravate it
Seeing a hand pain physio early helps prevent minor strain developing into chronic tendon or nerve irritation.

Take the Next Step Toward Recovery

At One Body, our physiotherapists specialise in hand pain treatment — from repetitive strain and tendonitis to arthritis and post‑surgical recovery. We combine advanced assessment, hands‑on therapy, and targeted rehabilitation to help you move, grip, and live pain‑free again.

Book an appointment with a Hand Pain Physiotherapist

Your questions, answered

Yes. Physiotherapy is research-backed and used worldwide for muscle, joint and nerve pain — including back pain, sciatica, neck pain, sports injuries and post-op rehab.

This is private physio, not NHS. You get more time, more hands-on treatment, and a plan built for your body.
At One Body LDN, we’re entirely results-based, with thousands of successful treatments, thousands of 5-star reviews, and multiple awards.

Our physios combine deep, effective hands-on treatment with expert rehab. We don’t just give exercise sheets — we treat the problem.

You can start with a free assessment, or get 55% off a full 55-minute assessment and treatment.
To redeem either offer, you must enter code NEWCLIENT at checkout.

We’re competitively priced for a private clinic, while delivering an award-winning standard of care.
Costs are always clear upfront — no wasted sessions, no pressure.

Typical ranges:

  • Recent/acute issues: 2–4+ sessions
  • Long-standing or complex issues: 4–8+ sessions

We only recommend what you genuinely need. No sales tactics, full transparency.
We also offer discounts exclusively at the clinic to support faster recovery. The faster you recover, the fewer sessions you need, and the less you spend.

Sessions are safe, professional, and hands-on. Our deep massage treatments can provide the deep “good pain” our clients love. But always, our treatments are controlled and explained, and they’re within your limits.

Every session includes:

  • Proper assessment
  • Hands-on treatment (massage, manual therapy, joint work)
  • Clear rehab advice

We don’t do hands-off physio. You won’t be left alone with an exercise sheet.
You’ll leave knowing what’s wrong, why it happened, and what to do next.

Yes — we accept all major insurers, including AXA, Bupa, Vitality, Cigna, WPA, Healix and many more.

We are also the only clinic to provide a step-by-step insurance portal to make claiming easy.
You can book online instantly, with no phone calls or deposits.

We have multiple London physio clinics, many of which are open 7 days a week.
Same-day and same-week appointments are the norm for our clients.

Booking takes under 60 seconds online.
Book here

Yes. We treat everyday pain, sports injuries, complex cases, and post-op rehab, including:
Back pain & sciatica, neck & shoulder pain, knee & running injuries, gym injuries, and ongoing muscle stiffness and tightness.

All our physios are HCPC-registered, highly experienced, and have completed our rigorous onboarding process. Our team comes from NHS and elite sport backgrounds, including work with high-level athletes.

Medically Reviewed and Trusted

This page has been medically reviewed by Rebecca Bossick, Lead Clinical Physiotherapist, HCPC & CSP Registered.