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Best Physical Therapists in Santa Monica for Wrist and Hand Pain – What to Know Before You Book
By 1HP Staff·June 7, 2025
Santa Monica along with Silicon beach remains a strong hub for tech workers and gamers alike to work and live. With this large population of individuals working daily on a computer we see many hand and wrist injuries. Here at 1HP we hold over 25 years of combined experience helping to treat 3,000+ individuals, fix their wrist/hand pain and significantly improve their pain and increase their function. From professional gamers to engineers, analysts, musicians and crafters were highly regarded as the go-to thanks to our understanding on the underlying issue. Throughout the years we’ve even been featured on ESPN, Washington Post, and published research. We do this all through online consultation and follow ups as there is strong research to support that the outcomes with telemedicine remain just as effective as in person visits, but now AT YOUR OWN CONVENIENCE.
If any of you have been to the doctor recently you probably know they talked to you for a few minutes and recommended that you get an injection, take some anti-inflammatories or wear a brace and stop using the hand. Not only are these methods useless at worst and band-aid fixes at best they don’t address the underlying endurance issue that is causing the overuse /under-preparation injury in the first place.
Oftentimes, individuals will visit with their doctor or therapist only to accurately receive a diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome due to the lack of understanding with hand/wrist conditions. Today, Santa Monica Physical Therapists have developed techniques for dealing with painful conditions like this and breaking down what truly is the issue.
Unlike other organizations or providers, we differ as we focus on the underlying issue which in most cases remains the lack of capacity our muscles/tendons can handle. This is why we remain the best wrist pain specialists in Santa Monica.
Don’t Suffer with Wrist & Hand Pain Any Longer
For desk workers and gamers, hands and wrists are vital tools of the trade. Whether you’re engaging in marathon coding sessions or competitive play, repetitive motions and prolonged use can lead to discomfort or injury. Addressing these issues promptly is crucial to maintain performance and prevent long-term damage.
Extended gaming sessions, especially those involving rapid, repetitive movements, can strain the hand and wrist muscles. Conditions such as ‘gamer’s thumb’ (de Quervain’s tenosynovitis) and tendinopathies are increasingly common among gamers and tech workers that often get mistaken for Carpal tunnel syndrome. A misdiagnosis could mean lost time and money or even just keep you out of your hobbies that much longer. This is why it is so important to consult with experts who understand you and the hobbies/activities that led to the injury in the first place.
Diagnosis & TreatmentsOur expert therapists here in Santa monica will perform a complete physical examination of the affected area to determine what is causing the wrist and hand pain. Based on the results, you will be put on a treatment plan to remedy the cause of the pain and to prevent future injury. Treatments focus on providing a strong, in-depth home exercise program that is designed to address the underlying issues. Throughout this time individuals may also benefit from ergonomic assessments, lifestyle changes, and heat/ice therapy in order to return to 100% all without ever wearing a brace that so many providers harmfully promote. Again, this is what makes us different with our approach to physical therapy for RSI in the Santa Monica area.
Treatment:
Ergonomic Assessments: Evaluating and optimizing your gaming setup to ensure proper hand and wrist positioning can significantly reduce strain.
Relative rest (Not Bracing): Implementing regular breaks during gaming sessions to stretch and rest the hands and wrists.
Physical Therapy: Engaging in exercises specifically designed for YOU to strengthen hand and wrist muscles that are being used with gaming or computer use.
Pain Science Education: Any comprehensive program should focus on all factors surrounding pain. Through a better understanding of the biopsychosocial approach to pain you are able to more easily break the pain cycle that can occur with long term or chronic pain
If you are suffering from wrist and hand pain, we recommend that you continue to explore our website, check out our youtube pages (Tech) and (Gaming), or even join our discord where we answer questions with detailed and individualized answers.
Most people consider wrist injuries to only come from a fall or some overuse in sports, but we know that is false. In today’s technological age we are finding more and more the risk of injury from overuse while using a mouse and keyboard in coding, gaming with a controller, or even scrolling on the phone. Regardless of the intensity level, activities that put repetitive stress on the wrists and hands can cause people to develop pain and discomfort over time. Within Santa Monica there remains a high population of gamers, desk workers, and coders which is part of why we see more cases of hand and wrist pain compared to other locations.
If you’re engaged in an occupation that requires you to use your hands and wrists for a major portion of the day (ie: tech workers), you could develop wrist and hand pain over time. This includes even simple activities like moving a mouse, typing on a keyboard, moving the joystick with your thumb all of which can cause pain in the wrists and hands when performed with force or under strain.
Other factors such as health conditions, ergonomics, poor diet/sleep, increased stress can all put people at a greater risk of developing conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, lateral epicondylosis (tennis elbow), DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis, etc.
Symptoms of wrist and hand may vary but commonly we see things such as a dull ache or shooting pain in the affected area, swelling, a tingling sensation, numbness, and so on. These ARE NOT NORMAL and should be addressed early on instead of waiting longer for it to go away as a weak or compromised wrist injury can cause irreversible damage if left untreated.
Experiencing discomfort during your gaming sessions? Have you been told you have Carpal Tunnel from gaming? Whatever it may be, don’t let pain hinder your performance. Schedule an appointment with our hand therapists located in Santa Monica to develop a personalized plan tailored to your gaming needs.
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What Are the Causes of Wrist & Hand Pain?One of the most common reasons you may be suffering from wrist or hand pain is because of an injury to the area. Through repetitive use, such as gaming for long hours or playing certain musical instruments there is an increased chance for injury.
Common Conditions we treat:
There are other causes of wrist pain as well, but the ones listed above are most commonly seen today.
Written By: Brett Becker, OTR/L, ACE-CPT & CMES