By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

IN A BOX

GENESEO FREE HAND CLINIC

When: Friday, Feb. 24 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Where: Rock Valley Physical Therapy, 1225 S. Oakwood Ave., Suite 1, Geneseo.

To schedule a FREE 20-minute screen, call 309-944-6447

A lot can be learned from an inspection of a hand, and Geneseo Current wanted to know more about hand screenings, so we asked Andrea Davis, an occupational and hand therapist with Rock Valley Physical Therapy – Geneseo.

Even though hand screenings are not new, Davis said many people are not aware of the free injury screens available at all Rock Valley clinics for all types of injuries.

Free hand screenings will be offered on Feb. 24 at Rock Valley Physical Therapy in Geneseo.

“We want to make the community aware that Rock Valley Physical Therapy in Geneseo now has a certified hand therapist CHT),” she said. ‘We also want to capture people when hand pain begins and hopefully prevent conditions form progressing to the point with surgery or chronic disability or deformities.”

Davis added that most clinics do have free injury screening, “but most people are unaware of these services,” she said, and explained that the 20-minute screening is free.

“If therapy is recommended, the cost is based on individual insurance coverage and co-pays,” Davis said. “It is important to identify hand conditions that are causing pain or dysfunction to improve quality of life, and to reduce pain and suffering and to prevent or reduce the likelihood of surgery or chronic disability or deformities.”

According to information from the Arthritis Foundation that Davis provided, about half of all women and one-quarter of all men will experience stiffness and pain of the hands by the time they are 85 yers old.

She listed these signs:

-“Are you experiencing increasing hand pain or stiffness?

-Or do you have hand numbness or tingling?

-Are you noticing a decline in dexterity or grip or pinch strength?

-Is pain or loss of hand function making it difficult to complete everyday tasks or hobbies?

-Maybe you want some recommendations to maintain your hand function as you age.”

Davis commented that through the hand screenings, she has become aware that most people assume that any hand pain “is arthritis and really have no idea how to treat their hand conditions and often do exercises or activities that make the conditions worse.”

During the 20-minute screening, the Clinic Hand Therapist will evaluate the person’s pain or dysfunction, for all age groups and types of hand issues, she explained, and added, “I will make some recommendation to treat the condition. I might possible recommend formal therapy or recommend seeing a physician if necessary, depending on the severity.”