Swelling Management

Swelling or oedema is the most common complication one experiences after hand injuries or any kind of hand surgery. It delays the process of rehabilitation due to decreased range of motion, uncomfortable feelings, and slowing the process of tissue healing. The management of oedema is crucial for the restoration of hand functionality and overall progress. At our hand therapy Sydney clinic, we propose an integrated swelling management treatment that reduces edema, improves circulation, and enhances your rehabilitation.

Causes of Swelling

Swelling is the retention of fluid in tissues, usually due to injury, surgery, or inflammation. Nature’s first response to injury is to flood an area with fluid and proteins, which activates the healing process. If this occurs in an extreme manner, then it gets in the way of the healing process with uncomfortable edema and potential stiffness.

Common situations that need the management of swelling are:

Post-surgical swelling: Swelling can be seen following procedures like tendon repairs, fractures, and ligament surgeries as a response to the surgery itself. Traumatic swelling: Severe injuries to the musculoskeletal system, including fractures, sprains, and soft tissue damage, can result in substantial fluid accumulation in the affected region. Chronic disorders: Arthritis and repetitive strain injuries are other factors that might lead to persistent or periodic swelling.

If left unattended and poorly managed, swelling can lead to complications including stiffness of the joints, slower healing, or reduced range of motion, which in turn makes restoration of the complete functionality of the hand more problematic.

Methods in the Management of Swelling

Hand Therapy Experts utilises a variety of diverse evidence-based techniques of managing swelling and enabling early recovery of a patient. Each technique is modified with respect to the condition and injury that a patient sustains. These techniques include: Elevation: One of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce swelling involves elevating the hand or wrist above the heart. This position helps reduce swelling because it promotes the flow of blood and lymph away from the affected limb. It is a common recommendation that, especially in the early stages and immediately after injury or surgery, the affected limb must be frequently elevated above the level of the heart.

• Compression Therapy: The main component of the treatment of swelling is compression. It involves the application of gentle pressure on the swollen part of the body using a garment, bandage, or wrap, which is specially made for compression purposes. This aids in pushing out the extra fluid from the tissues. In the case of management of edema after surgery or injury, compression gloves and wraps are frequently recommended. The garments are fitted with consideration for applying the right level of pressure without restriction of circulation.
• Activity and Exercise: Motion is a vital component in the resolution of swelling. The gentle controlled exercises to stimulate circulation are an essential part of the management to reduce swelling. Our hand therapist will teach you exercises that enhance pumping fluid out of the swollen region while maintaining the joints mobile. The most frequent type of exercises are controlled, slow range-of-motion movements of the fingers, wrist, and hand to mobilise fluid without fatiguing the injured area.
• Cold Therapy: Cold application to the swollen area reduces inflammation and swelling through the mechanism of constriction of blood vessels, which limits fluid accumulation. Cold therapy is very useful during the acute injury stage, especially within the first 48 hours, because it helps to control acute inflammation and pain. Our team will educate you regarding proper cold therapy application in terms of the number of times and the duration of using cold safely.
• Kinesiology Taping: Kinesiology tape is used to gently pull the skin and enable the facilitation of lymphatic drainage and reduce edema in the affected area. The tape is applied by our therapists in specific patterns that augment the movement of fluid and support the injured tissues. Kinesiology taping is a non-invasive effective modality for the management of edema and allows the patient to continue being mobile.

Post-Surgical Swelling Management

Swelling is part of the healing process after any form of hand surgery. However, excessive or prolonged swelling is known to prolong the recovery period and could make rehabilitation problematic. Hand therapists minimise post-surgical swelling by focusing on their combination of techniques outlined above. We also liaise with your Sydney hand surgeon to ensure that management of swelling is done in line with your overall postoperative care plan.

Why Choose Hand Therapy Experts for Swelling Management?

Whether it is post-surgery, trauma, or chronic condition, effective swelling management forms an important part of any rehabilitation. Our hand physiotherapist has many years of experience in managing swelling and regaining full mobility and function in the shortest time possible, and hence will provide personalised intensive treatments to assist you in recovering more quickly and effectively.

Book an Appointment

Whether you have just had surgery of the hand or have concerns about swollen hands or swollen fingers, we are here to help. With our expertise in swelling management, we will guide you through the process of healing for full recovery.

Call our hand therapy Sydney clinic today to schedule your consultation and learn more about our comprehensive swelling management services.