Hand injuries can often be very tender. Unfortunately, this tenderness does not always go away by itself. It is important to begin to touch the scar to help it become more ‘normal’ and less sensitive. The nerves in the hand are special and are more sensitive than other parts of the body. After any injury, the skin of the hand must get used to being touched again for the tenderness to go away. If you do not touch the sore areas of your hand, they may remain very sensitive and tender.
Hypersensitivity is an increased sensitivity to touch at the site of injury. Desensitisation is a procedure of touching part or all of the hand in specific ways to gradually reduce hypersensitivity. Hypersensitivity is usually the result of over-active nerve endings caused by injury / surgery.
Techniques used by the hand therapy team include:
