Presenting symptoms

Question 1

Your patient is a 36-year-old female pro-golfer. She presents with pain and catching on the radial dorsal aspect of her left wrist. Her symptoms are aggravated mainly during golf, but also when lifting saucepans off the stove.

Answer 1

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Question 2

Your patient is a 26-year-old male, who works as a physiotherapist. He plays Australian Rules football (2 training sessions and 1 game per week). He is referred for physiotherapy management 2 days after having open reduction and internal fixation surgery for a right distal radial fracture, which he sustained after falling onto his outstretched hand during a game.

Answer 2

• Oedema control: elevation & compression
• Hand ROM
• Shoulder & Elbow ROM
• Wrist mobilisation as soon fracture healing allows

Question 3

Your patient is a 42-year-old female, who works as a HR consultant and has 3 young children. She plays tennis competitively twice a week, and does yoga 3 times a week. She presents for physiotherapy management 5 days after carpal tunnel decompression surgery on her right wrist.

Answer 3

Wound Management
Early hand ROM
Avoid heavy lifting/pushing for 4 weeks Median Nerve and Tendon gliding exercises No need for splinting
Scar management