By Arianne Ouellet, physiotherapist

After an accident or injury to the wrist, hand, or fingers, the affected area may be immobilized to better manage symptoms and the healing process. It’s also possible that, even without immobilization, you may tend to underuse the injured hand to protect it.

Compensatory pain arises from repetitive, unusual movements we perform to avoid moving an injured body part. For example, if you can no longer bend your wrist to allow a fracture to heal, you may tend to bend your shoulder or elbow more to brush your teeth. Your shoulder will then be at risk of becoming painful.

Here are some basic tips to prevent compensatory pain in these situations:

• Stay active while staying safe! Opt for activities or hobbies like walking to maintain your physical fitness.
• Avoid compensations by using improper working techniques and poor movement patterns. Try to adapt your tasks or ways of doing things to prevent these pains.
• Avoid protective postures. Try to use your arm as normally as possible, while respecting the recommendations and contraindications from your doctor, physiotherapist, or occupational therapist. For example, avoid keeping your arm pressed against your abdomen constantly.
• Perform a simple exercise program to maintain the mobility of your arm. Here’s an example. However, we recommend having these exercises validated by your therapist or doctor if you have other physical conditions or health issues to ensure safety.