8 Upper Half: Hands

Our hands are truly indispensable tools! They perform the fine movements that let us tie a small knot or pick up a delicate seed, yet they’re equally up to the heavy-duty tasks like repairing equipment or managing livestock. Every day, whether it’s buttoning a shirt or fixing a tractor, our hands are at work, seamlessly blending precision with strength. And it’s no wonder that occupational therapists sometimes joke that they practically only work with hands—they’re the unsung heroes keeping both daily life and farm tasks running smoothly!

Common Injuries:

• Cuts, Lacerations & Abrasions – From handling livestock, equipment, or sharp tools.
• Crush Injuries & Fractures – Resulting from machinery accidents or mishandling heavy objects.
• Tendonitis & Overuse Injuries – Caused by repetitive gripping, chopping, or prolonged tool use.
• Nerve Injuries – Such as carpal tunnel syndrome from constant repetitive motions.

Signs & Symptoms

• Cuts, Lacerations & Abrasions – Visible wounds, minor bleeding, or skin abrasions accompanied by localized pain and potential risk of infection.
•  Crush Injuries & Fractures – Severe pain, swelling, and sometimes deformity; difficulty moving fingers or maintaining a firm grip, with noticeable bruising or numbness.
• Tendonitis & Overuse Injuries – Persistent pain during movement, stiffness in the tendons, and a burning sensation that can reduce grip strength.
•  Nerve Injuries – Numbness, tingling, and a “pins and needles” feeling in the fingers, along with pain that may radiate from the wrist upward into the forearm

Common Conditions with the Hands

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome –  caused by compression of the median nerve, this syndrome can cause numbness, tingling, and pain in the wrist and hand area. Adapting daily tasks around the complications of this syndrome can result in general weakness.
• De Quervain Syndrome –a condition that causes pain, stiffness, and weakness around the thumb joint and the surrounding area of the hand. While the exact cause of this syndrome is unknown, it presents in people who may overuse the muscles in the hands with repetitive motions.
• Dupuytren’s Contracture – a condition that causes the fingers to curl towards the palm. The fascia (layer of tissue) contracts and thickens leading to decreased range of motion, functional use, and pain. Surgical intervention is most often the treatment for this condition.
• Nerve Compression Syndrome – a condition that occurs when a nerve is compressed or pinched, leading to pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected area. 
• Arthritis of the wrist/hand (Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid) –

1. Osteoarthritis, or “wear and tear” arthritis, is the most common form. It happens when the cartilage that cushions your bones wears down, causing them to rub together and resulting in pain, stiffness, and reduced movement. In the hands, it typically affects the wrist, base of the thumb, and finger joints, and can lead to bony lumps over time.
2. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes joint swelling, pain, and stiffness. It damages the joint lining, wearing down cartilage and bone over time. This often leads to joint deformity, especially in the wrists, hands, and fingers, typically affecting both sides of the body.

AgrAbility. (2021). Arthritis and agriculture: A guide to understanding and living with arthritis

AgrAbility. (2021). Arthritis and gardening: A guide for home gardeners and small-scale producers

Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health. (2024, July 9). Common injuries

Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2025). Hand conditions. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved February 25, 2025, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/hand-conditions