Recovery
Prevent, Treat, and Recover from Skier’s Thumb with Forza Physical Therapy
January 14, 2025
Skier’s thumb is a common injury caused by overstretching or tearing the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in the thumb. Although it’s named for its frequent occurrence in skiing accidents, this injury can happen anytime your thumb is forcefully pulled away from your hand—such as during a fall or lifting a heavy object. At Forza Physical Therapy, we specialize in hand therapy to help you prevent, treat, and recover from skier’s thumb, so you can enjoy your daily activities without pain or limitations.
Prevention:
Prevention starts with strengthening the muscles that support your thumb and wrist. At Forza, our therapists guide you through personalized exercises designed to improve grip strength and flexibility. If you enjoy outdoor activities like gardening, knitting, or snowshoeing, we’ll teach you ergonomic techniques and warm-up stretches to protect your thumb from strain.
Intervention and Treatment:
If you’ve recently experienced a fall or noticed thumb pain and swelling, seeking care promptly is essential. At Forza Physical Therapy, we offer non-surgical treatment options, including custom splinting to stabilize the thumb joint, manual therapy to reduce stiffness, and tailored exercises to restore mobility. If surgery is required for severe ligament tears, our team is here to provide expert post-operative rehabilitation to ensure a smooth recovery.
The Forza Difference:
Living in rural Maine, access to specialized care can feel limited—but that’s where we come in. At Forza, we take pride in offering one-on-one, personalized care tailored to your unique needs. With our expertise in hand therapy and our compassionate approach, we help you get back to doing what you love, whether it’s cooking, crocheting, or playing with grandchildren.
Don’t let thumb pain slow you down. Contact Forza Physical Therapy today to take the first step toward living pain-free and doing what you love with confidence.
Paul Abbey
Paul is a board-certified, fellowship-trained certified hand therapist who specializes in elbow, wrist, and hand rehabilitation. He has over 10,000 hours of direct patient care.