Laser for CrossFit Hand Injury
Dr. Perry Nickleston
When you train hard at what you are passionate about, injuries are inevitable. CrossFit training is no exception; it’s the nature of competition. If you do CrossFit workouts then you know how much of a beating the hands can take. Swinging kettle bells, jumping rope, sledgehammers, pull-ups, deadlifts, etc., they all take a toll on the fingers. General overuse and hand soreness can hinder a workout. Blisters, cuts, or wounds may even put the brakes on workouts completely. Hand pain alters grip strength leading to compensations further up the body movement kinetic chain. What started as a hand injury now becomes a wrist, elbow, shoulder, neck, or even back problem. Using class IV laser therapy with a long-term injury prevention program is a great combination for fast results. CrossFit athletes want fast and lasting results. If you can deliver that, they will be lining up to see you.
The body wants to avoid pain. It will compensate with altered movement patterning to get away from pain. The body’s attempt at self-protection often leads to more problems with training. Grip strength is intricately connected to core strength. Try this experiment; grab something and lift it up without using anything but your hand. You can’t do it because you need your core to stabilize the lift. If the core is weak, you may over grip the object leading to classic overuse symptoms in the upper extremity.
A great strategy for getting those hands back in shape is the following:
Apply LightForce Deep Tissue Laser Therapy to the hands. Dosage guidelines for general soreness and pain are 750-1,000 joules (J) on the palmar aspect of the hand from wrist to tips of fingers. Apply 750-1,000J on the dorsum of the hand. Total dosage range 1500-2000 Joules depending on the size of the hands. Power output can range from 6-10 Watts.
a. One of the non-contact attachments is preferable due to bony prominences in the fingers
b. For open wounds (cuts, blisters, etc)., lower dosages to 500-600 Joules per side of hand. Total dosage a 1,000-1,200 Joules. Power should be lowered to 4-5 Watts.
Anytime you are treating the hands it is advised to also treat the neck. Laser the cervical spine to relax fascial attachments to the arm and stimulate nerve roots. For the neck treatment the non-contact or massage handpiece attachments may be used. Follow the standard dosage protocol of 6-8J per cm2. Most neck dosages will range between 1,500 and 2,000 Joules.
Trigger points in the pectoralis minor and infraspinatus are often found with CrossFit hand injuries due to over activation from increased grip. These points refer pain into the arm and torso. Trigger point dosage may be 600-750 Joules per point with power of 8-10 Watts. Choose the appropriate LightForce Therapy Lasers delivery technique for the area.
Visit frequency can be every 2-3 days depending on the condition you are treating. Very often CrossFit athletes enjoy LightForce Therapy Lasers treatments on the hands, even when symptoms have improved because it makes the hands feel better overall. They note better and stronger workouts. Apply kinesiotape to the hands (not on an open wound) to protect the hands and stabilize the wrist/grip.
One session with this protocol on a CrossFit athlete and they will be hooked. The immediate effects and positive response from class IV laser therapy is undeniable. Rest assured they will tell everyone else in their CrossFit facility about you and laser therapy. Nothing is more rewarding than helping people do what they love better. Deep Tissue Laser Therapy will be a critical part of doing just that.
