Hand therapy plays a crucial role in managing rugby-related injuries, focusing on restoring hand function and preventing further complications. It can help athletes recover from injuries like sprains, fractures, and ligament tears, ensuring a safe and effective return to play.
Hand injuries can have large implications on activities of daily living as well as returning to sports. The benefit of seeing a qualified hand therapist is that you can minimise your recovery time and complications and maximise your outcomes.
Your hand therapist can give you informed advice on which exercises are relevant and appropriate as you return to sport, along with prevention strategies to avoid further injuries.
Recognising injury and accessing timely treatment
When should I see a hand therapist?
Common signs and symptoms of hand injuries include tenderness, bruising, swelling, deformity, changes in sensation and pallor, and instability.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, book in to see a qualified hand therapist as soon as possible.
Injuries that we commonly see from rugby include:
- Mallet Injury
- Jersey finger
- Fractures
- Jarred fingers and thumb
- PIP joint dislocations
- Thumb
Why should I see a hand therapist?
- Thorough assessment and referral for medical imaging
- Timely access to a hand surgeon (if appropriate)
- Customised splint to wear while not playing sport to provide optimal position for healing/protection
- Customised sports guard to protect injured structures whilst playing. Abides by sporting regulations for equipment/aids.
- Structured rehabilitation and return to play guidance
Recognising injury and accessing timely treatment
Different structures in the body have different healing timeframes.
- Inability to straighten your fingertip due to a failed extensor tendon mechanism.
- Mechanism: sudden force to the fingertip e.g., ball, contact by another player
- These injuries are typically managed non-operatively with 6-8 weeks full-time splinting.
Return to sport with a custom sports guard you are able to play in.
- Tear (or rupture) in one of the flexor tendons of your fingertip
- Mechanism: commonly occurs when the finger is caught in a player’s jersey.
- These are usually managed operatively. Your hand therapist can create a customised splint, with an early referral to a hand surgeon.
- You may experience pain when attempting to move the finger and localised swelling.
- These injuries are usually managed in a custom finger splint to immobilise the injured area.
- An unstable injury may require a longer splinting period. Your hand therapist may perform a physical assessment and refer for an X-ray to assess the extent of your injury.
- Mechanism: Hyperextension of fingers or joint dislocated
- These injuries are typically managed non-operatively with 6-8 weeks full-time splinting.
- Return to sport with a custom sports guard you are able to play in.
Following your structured rehabilitation plan
Your hand therapist may prescribe you a tailored home exercise program, including education regarding splinting regime, range of movement, strengthening, proprioception and joint stability exercises.
Your hand therapist can help guide you to which aspects of training or game play you may be able to return to at each stage of rehabilitation.
Sports Guards
Your hand therapist can assess your injury and prescribe a customised thermoplastic splint. These splints can be fabricated into low profile sports guards that can be strapped onto your fingers and hands while playing, which allows a safe return to sports.
Ongoing targeted exercise
If there are ongoing functional deficits following an injury, your hand therapist can provide tailored exercises to target these.
By seeking professional hand therapy, rugby players can optimise their recovery from injuries and return to the sport with confidence and a reduced risk of re-injury.
Think hand therapy may be right for you?
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