Elbow, Wrist & Hand

Grip, type, swing—without the zing.

Opening a jar, picking up a toddler, a few extra sets in the gym, or a weekend of pickleball… and suddenly your elbow, wrist, or hand has a lot to say. Maybe your fingers feel stiff in the morning, your thumb aches every time you pinch, or gripping a pan sends a sharp reminder that something’s not happy.

At Timpanogos Physical Therapy, we help calm the noise and rebuild capacity so everyday tasks—and the fun stuff—feel doable again. We use a thoughtful mix of shockwave therapy, Electromagnetic Therapy (EMTT), manual techniques, targeted exercise, and red/infrared light therapy to get you moving with confidence.

Common elbow, wrist & hand issues we see

• Tennis elbow (lateral elbow pain) – grip weakens, lifting a pan, or shaking hands lights it up.
• Golfer’s elbow (medial elbow pain) – curling, carrying, or forearm work leaves a deep ache.
• De Quervain’s (thumb-side wrist pain) – bothered by texting, lifting kids, or scrolling.
• Thumb CMC (basal joint) arthritis – pain with pinching, opening jars, or prolonged phone use.
• Finger stiffness or “trigger finger” – catching, locking, or soreness when you bend or straighten.
• Hand and wrist osteoarthritis – aching with gripping, handwriting, or longer projects.
• Post-overuse soreness – from keyboard marathons, home projects, instrument practice, or new racquet sports.
• Carpal/ulnar nerve irritation – numbness, tingling, or night discomfort that needs brilliant pacing.
• Post-surgical stiffness – cleared to rehab but still stuck on the basics like fist-making, opening the hand, or weight bearing through the arm.

Get medical care first for obvious deformity, severe swelling or warmth with fever, sudden loss of grip, or a traumatic injury you can’t move through. We’ll take it from there once you’re cleared.

Why do these problems linger

Tendons and small joints love load—but just the right amount. Too much, too soon (or too often), and they become irritable and protective. Add a busy week at work, more time on the court, or a significant home project, and the cycle repeats.

Nerves can get cranky when the surrounding tissues are tight, and hands don’t love life without adequate mobility and strength. Once things hurt, you naturally use them less… which can lead to more stiffness and less capacity.

Breaking the loop means two things:

1. Lower sensitivity so you can move and use the arm/hand again.
2. Rebuild capacity so your elbow, wrist, and hand can handle what your life asks of them.

How we help

Shockwave Therapy

Short, focused acoustic pulses tell stubborn areas to change course—easing pain signals, relaxing guarded muscle, and supporting tissue remodeling in irritated tendons and soft tissue.

For elbow tendinopathy, De Quervain’s, and specific thumb or hand tendon issues, shockwave therapy can be the nudge that gets you past the plateau when rest and basic stretches haven’t been enough.

Electromagnetic Therapy (EMTT)

Pulsed electromagnetic fields—sometimes described as magneto therapy—are applied over the forearm, wrist, and hand to help:

• Dial down spasm and irritability
• Support local circulation
• Make movement and gripping feel less guarded

We often pair EMTT with shockwave therapy when the forearm, wrist, or hand feels “always on edge.”

Skilled Manual Therapy

Hands-on work to improve:

• Joint glide at the elbow, wrist, thumb, and finger joints
• Soft-tissue mobility in the forearm, palm, and fingers
• Nerve excursion (median, ulnar, or radial nerve glides) when appropriate

Clearing mechanical hang-ups makes gripping, pressing, typing, and fine-motor tasks feel more natural and less effortful.

Therapeutic Exercise

Easy-to-follow progressions that build tendon and muscle capacity without poking the bear:

• Isometrics when symptoms are hot
• Eccentrics and heavy-slow resistance as tissues tolerate more
• Finger and thumb stabilization drills for pinching and fine grip
• Grip, forearm, and hand-strength work tailored to your job, hobbies, and sport
• Ergonomic and activity tweaks so your day doesn’t undo your progress

We’ll also coach you on pacing work, keyboard use, phone time, and lifting so you can heal while staying as functional as possible.

Red & Infrared Light

A calming finisher after bigger days that supports recovery between work and workouts. Think: help the tissues settle so tomorrow starts on a better note—especially useful for achy, stiff hands at the end of the day.

For the racquet, club, instrument, and barbell crowd

Technique and workload matter. Small changes—grip size, string tension, swing path, pick/ bow technique, or a smarter return-to-lifting or practice plan—can take pressure off irritated tendons and joints while you rebuild.

Our goal is to keep you playing, training, and creating while we steadily increase what your elbow, wrist, and hand can handle.

What progress can feel like

• Less sting with the first lift of the day and fewer “zings” when you grab or twist
• Stronger, steadier grip for jars, bags, dumbbells, racquets, and instruments
• Typing and mousing that don’t end in a throbbing forearm or stiff fingers
• Easier pinching and fine-motor tasks—buttons, zippers, handwriting, crafting
• Confidence to practice, train, and work without paying for it later

FAQs

Will I need imaging?
 Not usually. If your exam suggests something that would change the plan—such as a significant tear, fracture, or a more complex joint issue—we’ll coordinate with your medical team.

Is shockwave therapy the same as ultrasound?
 No. Shockwave therapy uses acoustic pulses that create a mechanical stimulus; ultrasound is a different technology. We choose the tool that best fits your tissues’ needs.

Can I keep working or training?
 Often yes—with minor modifications. The goal is to keep you moving and using your hands while symptoms calm and capacity builds.

Do you only do machines?
 No. Technology helps, but the lasting change comes from the combination of targeted manual work, the proper exercise at the right time, and the innovative use of tools like EMTT and red light therapy, within a plan you can stick with.

Ready to use your hands without thinking about them?

If your elbow, wrist, or hand keeps hijacking the day, let’s change that. Book an evaluation with Timpanogos Physical Therapy and we’ll build a plan that fits your tasks, your training, and your timeline—without cookie cutters.