Management of Sports Injuries in the Hand

Humans rely on their hands for many daily activities, including during exercise. Although other parts of the body are also used, there are several sports that depend heavily on hand movements, such as tennis, badminton, and baseball. Consequently, hands are also prone to sports injuries.

Various types of injuries, based on their anatomy, are divided into: bone injuries and soft tissue injuries (such as tendons, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels). The risk factors that contribute to injuries also vary, including:

• Sports that involve a lot of physical contact, such as boxing, gymnastics
• Poor posture or body workout form, or performing unusual movements during exercise, especially when fatigued
• Inadequate warm-up or cool-down

In addition to performing PRICE as first aid, you should immediately consult a doctor for proper treatment. When a patient arrives at RS Pondok Indah with a sports injury, the first step taken is an assessment by the medical team to check for any emergencies, including ABCD (airway, breathing, circulation, disability).

The patient will also undergo a medical interview to gather a complete chronology of the injury and their symptoms. Next, the patient will go through an initial physical examination, including palpation of the injured area or being asked to perform certain movements. If necessary, additional tests like X-rays, ultrasound, CT scans, or MRIs may be conducted if soft tissue injuries are suspected. Other tests, like blood work, may also be performed.

It is important to know that not all injuries and fractures require surgical intervention. However, in certain cases, surgery may be recommended to achieve specific outcomes. For instance, in injury cases involving athletes, a quicker recovery process is needed to return to peak performance. Therefore, surgical procedures and intensive recovery treatments are considered to achieve this goal.

Nowadays, minimally invasive surgery is becoming more widely utilized, including at RS Pondok Indah. There are two types of minimally invasive surgery. The first involves direct visualization with arthroscopy, which is a camera to look inside the joint. The second involves indirect visualization using a portable X-ray C-arm, typically used for placing pins in fractures with small incisions.

To prevent complications and long-term effects, the management of sports injuries in the hand must be detailed, precise, and integrated with physical therapy. Patients are encouraged to follow the therapy until the final stage, and must be supervised and trained in specific movements to be able to return to sports.

Sports injuries to the hand can occur at any time, so preventive measures include:

1. Practicing the hand positions and movements during sports. Ensure that the alignment of the hand and wrist relative to the shoulder and body axis is correct
2. Each time you workout, make sure to target the appropriate muscles and use the correct workout form
3. Make sure to include cooling down in your routine, not just warming up

Don't let a hand injury stop you from exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.