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While the summer season is a time of relaxation and fun celebration, it also allows many people time to get work done around the house and outside. No matter what activity you are looking forward to tackling or enjoying this summer, it’s important to take care of the primary tools you’ll be using to complete each task: your hands.

Whether it’s sports, home projects, or any number of leisurely summertime activities, your hands have the potential to sustain injury and damage. If you don’t want to have to put off that DIY project, let someone else fire up the grill, or sit out while everyone throws the football around, it’s vital to be mindful and aware of some common summertime hand injuries and ways to prevent them.

5 Common Summer Hand Injuries

Here are five of the most common potential summertime hand injuries:

1. Burns

   If you plan on doing some extensive grilling or setting off some serious fireworks, burns can be a very possible reality for you. To avoid a fiery situation, make sure you keep a safe distance from explosives and wear proper gloves when handling grills, smokers, and firepits.

2. Lacerations

   Severe cuts can occur when handling power tools or doing repair work on a lawn mower. You also risk lacerations with food preparation, such as slicing meats or vegetables. Be mindful that sharp cutting equipment is stored and handled properly at all times.

3. Wrist and finger sprains

   Impact sports like football, basketball, and volleyball can result in jammed fingers and potential sprains if the ball is passed or received improperly. Hand and wrist injuries can also occur following a biking, rollerblading, or skateboarding fall, so make sure you are properly padded with the right gloves or wrist guards when engaging in such activities.

4. Trigger finger

   This injury is not just firearm related. In fact, avid racquet sport players who tend to rest their index finger on the outside of the racket can develop trigger finger, which is the swelling and locking of the finger joint. Try maintaining a natural grip of the racquet to reduce impact to your fingers.

5. Nerve damage

   While it may sound farfetched, vibrations from prolonged power tool usage can actually damage the nerves in your hands and lead to numbness and reduced long term motor function. Be sure to take breaks between drilling and practice hand strengthening exercises with a stress ball or grip to increase dexterity.

You’re in Good Hands With Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine

If for any reason you happen to sustain a hand injury, the team of orthopaedic specialists and physicians at Orthopaedic Associates of St. Augustine are on hand year round with expert treatment plans and advanced surgical procedures to help reduce and relieve your hand injury pain. To request an appointment, please contact us online or give us a call today at 904-825-0540.

 

Alexander Lampley, MD
Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.