Take Hold Physiotherapy

21/08/2025

07/08/2025

The wrist is made up of 8 carpal bones and a large number of ligaments that’s job is to keep the joints stable. Many of the muscles that move the fingers and wrist also help to stabilise the wrist joint.
Slopers require the wrist to be in flexion. In this position, the carpals are less congruent and it is harder for the wrist extensors to co-contract to provide stability. For some people, for example those with more laxity in their ligaments, or previous injury, this position may be uncomfortable or give the sensation of gapping.
Improving the strength and stability of the wrist dynamic stabilisers may help to improve symptoms.

Always see a medical professional if you have concerns about your symptoms!

18/07/2025

Dupuytren’s contracture is a disorder of the palmar fascia, which starts with thickening/ nodules in the palm, and can progress to flexion contracture of the digit/s.
Its etiology isn’t fully understood, but risk factors are family history of the condition, s*x (80% male below age 40, 1:1 by age 80) age and ethnicity.
Environmental factors are also thought to be associated with the condition in some cases, such as smoking, alcohol intake, and micro-trauma to the hand.

Although the disease generally starts at a later age in females and progresses more slowly than in males, women are more likely to suffer with pain and inflammation in the early stages.

In a study looking at Dupuytren’s disease in climbers, it found that 19.5% of climbers questioned had developed Dupuytren’s disease, considerably higher than in a non-climbing population (around 8%), suggesting that the microtrauma of climbing could increase lifetime risk.
Interestingly, the respondents were almost entirely male, which still leaves the question as to whether the female climbing population are more at risk of the Dupuytren’s contracture than in the non-climbing population, and to what degree/ severity remains unknown.

Pictured: early Dupuytren’s nodules in two female climbers hands.