ptspin
by Shayne Narro
Get a grasp on your grip
We’ve talked about grip strength
in Backspin before. And it’s not
only important for golfers and other
athletes, but did you know the studies
have linked grip strength to mortality?
Recently, Ponchatoula Therapy
has seen a 96-year-old woman with a
40-pound grip strength. Impressive?
“Wrist extension and risk flexion
exercises can help with grip strength,”
says Ponchatoula Therapy’s Mallory
Kraft, PT, DPT. “Ensuring patients
have a controlled range of motion is
very important as well as understanding
the strength in that range of motion.”
Colleague Lucas Quebedeaux, PT,
DPT, agrees. “Adjacent joints should be
kept strong to increase wrist strength,”
he says. “Flexibility with your hands
reduces injuries in the fingers and the
wrists.”
Impact injuries can certainly test
the grip strength, and patients should
be aware that they shouldn’t test
their strength without first consulting
a medical professional who will
determine the extent of the injury
first. Putting pressure on joint and the
grip can irritate or worsen the injury.
Proper healing is necessary before
that sort of pressure is applied to an
injured area.
If pain worsens after an injury or
there is tenderness in the area, patients
need to consult medical professionals.
Depending on the severity of the
injury, healing time can vary from
one to two weeks for a fracture up to
several months for breaks and tears.
Keep in mind that physical
therapists can be a starting point for
recovery. They can help pinpoint
the issue to jump start your healing.
Contact Ponchatoula Therapy at (985)
386-6884 for more information or to
schedule an appointment.
Mallory Kraft, PT, DPT
Lucas Quebedeaux, PT, DPT
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