Consider how frequently you use your hands throughout the day. Almost all tasks involve gripping, pinching, pulling, pushing, or twisting. Repeating these actions, especially when performed improperly, can lead to severe health problems in the hands, wrists, and arms.

The human hand is a complex yet delicate structure, composed of 27 bones connected by tiny ligaments and controlled by small to medium-sized muscles. This might seem contradictory—strong yet fragile—but it’s true. Have you ever completed a tough physical task without straining your hands, only to feel discomfort from a seemingly simple activity? This often happens when lighter tasks are performed in biomechanically awkward positions.

When you use your hands in an incorrect posture, the alignment of bones can suffer, leading to weakened and ultimately injured hands. The bones in your wrists and hands may shift out of their healthy positions, causing stress and irritation to muscles, tendons, joints, ligaments, and nerves. This misalignment can cause symptoms such as pain, numbness, tingling, burning, or reduced strength and functionality in your fingers and grip.

Interestingly, it’s not always the heavy tasks that cause problems. In fact, smaller, more repetitive activities are often to blame. For example, carrying multiple bags of groceries by looping them around your fingers may not seem like much, but the uneven weight distribution and awkward angles can lead to strain and pain in your hands.

Similarly, writing a long letter or typing non-stop on a computer can also trigger discomfort. You may experience aching, tingling, or numbness in your hands after such tasks. With the daily demands placed on our hands, it’s no wonder that many people develop chronic hand, wrist, and arm issues.

Common symptoms that may indicate an underlying health issue include pain, tingling, numbness, burning, or loss of grip strength. The cause of these symptoms is often a mechanical dysfunction or misalignment in the bones of the wrist or hand. If you're experiencing hand pain, numbness, tingling, or reduced strength, it’s crucial to seek advice from a healthcare provider who specializes in hand, wrist, and arm conditions.

Effective Treatment for Hand and Wrist Pain

One of the most effective ways to restore normal function and healthy alignment in your hands and wrists is through gentle, specific joint manipulation performed by a trained expert. Dr. Bartosz at Quantum Chiropractic - Hand and Food Clinic has been trained and endorsed by the Chiropractic Hand & Foot Clinics of America to be a specialist in hand adjustments.

Dr. Bartosz can realign the bones of your hands and wrists, addressing the root cause of your discomfort, similar to how chiropractic care works for back pain. By correcting misaligned bones, Dr. Bartosz can help restore function and alleviate pain.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Median Nerve Entrapment

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common causes of hand pain, numbness, and tingling. The condition ranges from mild to severe, but without proper treatment, it will likely worsen over time. Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the thumb, index, middle, and half of the ring finger and can result in a weakened grip in chronic cases.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist, bordered by eight small carpal bones that form a horseshoe shape. The tunnel contains ten structures: the median nerve and nine tendons. Repetitive motions, injuries, or stress can misalign the carpal bones, putting pressure on the median nerve, leading to symptoms such as pain, tingling, and numbness.

While surgery is often considered, it carries significant risks. Fortunately, carpal tunnel syndrome can be treated effectively through chiropractic care, addressing the misalignment that causes the condition. In some cases, chiropractic care can even help patients who have not found relief from previous surgeries.

Ulnar Nerve Entrapment

Though less common than carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve entrapment can cause numbness and tingling in the pinky and half of the ring finger. This condition is often caused by misalignment of the eight carpal bones, which places pressure on the ulnar nerve. Similar to carpal tunnel syndrome, it is important to realign the bones to relieve symptoms and restore proper function.

Wrist Pain

Wrist pain is common in people who perform repetitive or strenuous tasks with their hands. With eight bones in the wrist area, misalignment can occur from stress, leading to pain and discomfort. Conditions like De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, caused by irritation of tendons in the wrist, are common, especially among athletes and new mothers who frequently strain their wrists.

Thumb Pain

The thumb is one of the most heavily used joints in the human body. As it opposes the four fingers, the thumb absorbs nearly four times the force exerted by each finger. The joint where the thumb meets the wrist is highly versatile, but it is also prone to arthritis due to overuse. Early correction of misalignments is essential to avoid long-term damage, especially for those with a family history of arthritis.

Arthritis and Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the hands. It develops when misalignments in the finger and hand joints put excessive stress on cartilage, leading to gradual degeneration. Left untreated, osteoarthritis can cause significant pain and functional limitations. Chiropractic care, which involves gentle adjustments to the bones in the hands, can relieve stress on the joints and help restore function.

Ganglion Cysts

Ganglion cysts are small, fluid-filled lumps that can form near misaligned joints. When the bones of the hand or wrist shift out of place, they can irritate the synovial lining of the joints, causing fluid buildup. These cysts may appear over time and sometimes cause pain. However, when alignment is restored through chiropractic care, these cysts often shrink or disappear

Dr. Bartsoz specializes in treating hand, wrist, and arm conditions, providing unique treatments not found in most chiropractic practices. If you are dealing with any of these issues, reaching out to him for care may help restore your hand health and improve your overall quality of life.