The Hand to Shoulder Solution

Carl Petitto
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Your new resource for hand, shoulder, and elbow pain. Together, we are giving pain the middle finger and gaining knowledge to live a better, pain-free life!Discover what might be causing pain in your fingers, pain in your hand, pain in your wrist, pain in your arm, pain in your elbow, pain in your shoulder.  Learn about your body, arthritis, tendinitis, tennis elbow, fractures, golfer's elbow, and carpal tunnel syndrome.Hosted by Carl Petitto, OT, CHT, and Certified Hand Therapist specializing in orthopedic conditions of the hand to shoulder. Also an expert in fabricating custom orthotics. 

  1. 14h ago

    Why Your Scar Hurts And How To Calm It

    A scar that hurts when your shirt sleeve brushes it can feel alarming, but it’s often a predictable part of healing. Scar tissue is brand-new tissue, and those “new” nerve endings can be more reactive than the surrounding skin, turning normal contact into sharp sensitivity. We break down why that happens and how to calm it down without falling into the trap that makes many scars even touchier over time.  We talk through the over-protection problem using an easy analogy: when skin gets shielded from normal touch for too long, sensation can come roaring back as extra intense. From there, we share a simple, practical scar desensitization routine you can start right away, including the calming “scar hug” technique that uses your own warmth and deep pressure instead of irritating rubbing. We also explain how to gently progress to skin mobility work by moving the skin in small directions without sliding on the surface.  If your scar is hypersensitive or feels lumpy and raised, we also cover silicone gel sheeting and how to wear it at night with light compression for a steady, soothing effect. You’ll hear specific tips on applying self-adhering wrap (like Coban) with gentle tension, plus daytime strategies like choosing softer clothing materials that reduce friction while still giving the scar safe exposure to normal touch.  If this helped, subscribe, share it with someone dealing with a sensitive surgical scar, and leave a review. What’s the hardest part for you right now: clothing contact, pressure on surfaces, or something else? Support the show Work with Carl! Check out the website - www.carlpetitto.com SUPPORT THE SHOW HERE: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BM23TS2LDQVFS Hello and welcome to the show, The Hand to Shoulder Solution, with me, Carl Petitto.  If you are experiencing pain in your arms and hands, this is your resource.  Subscribe, listen, and share to help us 'give pain the middle finger for good'!  This is a resource to help you mitigate pain at home and become more educated on what to ask your doctors and therapists. No medical advice will be given, and you should always see your medical professional for any questions.  Thank you, and welcome to the show!

  2. Oct 23

    How To Do Gentle Joint Traction At Home

    Wrist pain can make everything feel harder, typing, lifting a pan, even turning a key. We get super practical and show you how to do self-traction safely so you can create a tiny bit of space in the joint and take pressure off irritated areas, especially when arthritis, inflammation, or post-injury stiffness is driving that “compressed” feeling. I’m Carl Petito, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist, and I walk you through what traction actually is (a light separation, not a forceful yank) and why it can feel so relieving. We talk about how joint surfaces and cartilage respond to irritation, why nutrient-rich fluid movement matters, and why the wrist is such a complicated structure with many contact surfaces, ligaments, and tendons packed into a small space. That complexity is also why trauma like a fall or car accident can trigger lingering symptoms. Then we get hands-on with two at-home techniques: wrist self-traction using the bony landmark on the pinky side near the ulna head, and thumb CMC joint traction for base-of-thumb pain. You’ll hear the exact dosing I recommend for many people (three seconds, three reps, once or twice a day), how to relax the hand so it actually works, and why “doing it all day” can backfire and increase irritation. If anything hurts, you stop, and these tips never replace being seen by your provider. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with someone dealing with wrist or thumb arthritis symptoms, and leave a review so more people can find practical hand therapy guidance. Support the show Work with Carl! Check out the website - www.carlpetitto.com SUPPORT THE SHOW HERE: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BM23TS2LDQVFS Hello and welcome to the show, The Hand to Shoulder Solution, with me, Carl Petitto.  If you are experiencing pain in your arms and hands, this is your resource.  Subscribe, listen, and share to help us 'give pain the middle finger for good'!  This is a resource to help you mitigate pain at home and become more educated on what to ask your doctors and therapists. No medical advice will be given, and you should always see your medical professional for any questions.  Thank you, and welcome to the show!

  3. Oct 16

    Fixing Stiff Elbows

    We walk through why stiff elbows are so common and why the joint can feel “unforgiving” once motion is lost. We share practical, low-tech stretches to regain elbow flexion and extension without triggering extra inflammation.  • why the elbow stiffens quickly due to joint structure, ligaments, and tendons  • prioritising elbow flexion for daily function like eating and washing  • assisted flexion technique using biceps activation and gentle overpressure  • pain guidelines for stretching, keeping discomfort mild to avoid flare-ups  • setting a schedule, 20-second holds repeated throughout the day  • wall and wrap-based progressive stretching for longer, gentler flexion work  • avoiding “arm wrestling yourself” by aligning effort in one direction  • elbow extension drills using stacked books, towel support, and triceps activation  • wall-assisted extension and a taped water bottle technique to reduce gripping  Write in with any questions.  If you get anything out of it, like it and subscribe and share it with others.  Support the show Work with Carl! Check out the website - www.carlpetitto.com SUPPORT THE SHOW HERE: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BM23TS2LDQVFS Hello and welcome to the show, The Hand to Shoulder Solution, with me, Carl Petitto.  If you are experiencing pain in your arms and hands, this is your resource.  Subscribe, listen, and share to help us 'give pain the middle finger for good'!  This is a resource to help you mitigate pain at home and become more educated on what to ask your doctors and therapists. No medical advice will be given, and you should always see your medical professional for any questions.  Thank you, and welcome to the show!

  4. Oct 9

    Your Grip Training Is Too Early And Your Hand Knows It

    We break down why grip strength work often backfires after an injury and how to know when your hand is actually ready to strengthen. We also show safer ways to train grip, fingers, thumb, and wrist so you build power without feeding pain or swelling.  • waiting to strengthen until pain, redness, and swelling are down  • using daily activities as early functional strengthening  • avoiding ball squeezing that over-cups the palm  • setting grip work below the heel of the palm to reduce pressure  • using reps to fatigue and isometric holds for control  • understanding FDS vs FDP and why fingertip bend matters  • training forearm and grip together with hammer leverage  • strengthening wrist with slow, natural motion and no end-range resting  Also check out my videos on PetittoDefense.com, and that's another YouTube channel as well.  Thank you for liking and sharing and subscribing.  Support the show Work with Carl! Check out the website - www.carlpetitto.com SUPPORT THE SHOW HERE: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BM23TS2LDQVFS Hello and welcome to the show, The Hand to Shoulder Solution, with me, Carl Petitto.  If you are experiencing pain in your arms and hands, this is your resource.  Subscribe, listen, and share to help us 'give pain the middle finger for good'!  This is a resource to help you mitigate pain at home and become more educated on what to ask your doctors and therapists. No medical advice will be given, and you should always see your medical professional for any questions.  Thank you, and welcome to the show!

  5. Oct 2

    The Elbow Pad Fix That Makes Pain Angry

    Elbow pads and straps can worsen tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow when they press on an inflamed bony anchor point. We break down the elbow anatomy behind epicondylitis and explain why brief, targeted treatment differs from all-day pressure.  • locating the lateral epicondyle and medial epicondyle bony prominences  • how common flexor and common extensor tendons attach into bone  • why “itis” means inflammation and why pressure aggravates it  • how even slight rubbing from a pad can keep the area irritated  • when massage may help and why it is limited to short sessions  • what we tell patients who hate wearing the pad  Check it out, carlpatito.com in YouTube, The Hand to Shoulder Solution.  Support the show Work with Carl! Check out the website - www.carlpetitto.com SUPPORT THE SHOW HERE: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BM23TS2LDQVFS Hello and welcome to the show, The Hand to Shoulder Solution, with me, Carl Petitto.  If you are experiencing pain in your arms and hands, this is your resource.  Subscribe, listen, and share to help us 'give pain the middle finger for good'!  This is a resource to help you mitigate pain at home and become more educated on what to ask your doctors and therapists. No medical advice will be given, and you should always see your medical professional for any questions.  Thank you, and welcome to the show!

  6. Sep 25

    Stop Rotator Cuff Pain Fast

    Shoulder pain has a way of sneaking into everything, lifting, driving, workouts, even grabbing a bag from the back seat. We get practical about why that happens by zooming in on the rotator cuff: four small muscles that have to keep the ball of your shoulder centered on a very shallow socket. When those tendons get strained or torn, the mechanics change fast, and that is when pinching, sharp outside-shoulder pain, and frustrating weakness can show up. We share two quick, at-home screens you can try to better understand your symptoms, including the classic “empty can” position that often lights up supraspinatus pain. Just as important, we’re clear about the limits: shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tear, and arthritis-related changes can look similar, so an orthopedic exam and imaging often make the difference between guessing and actually fixing the cause. From there, we move into what to do right now: what movements to avoid when the shoulder is irritated, a surprisingly effective targeted ice approach for point tenderness, and shoulder-friendly band work that builds scapular control and takes pressure off the sensitive space where tendons can get compressed. We also talk strength training choices, why the Arnold press tends to be a safer pattern for many people, and why cleans can put your shoulder into a high-risk “empty can” angle. We finish with simple prevention you can use today, especially the common rotator cuff tear moment: reaching behind the car seat for something heavy. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with someone dealing with shoulder pain, and leave a review so more people can find smarter rotator cuff rehab and shoulder strengthening guidance. Support the show Work with Carl! Check out the website - www.carlpetitto.com SUPPORT THE SHOW HERE: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BM23TS2LDQVFS Hello and welcome to the show, The Hand to Shoulder Solution, with me, Carl Petitto.  If you are experiencing pain in your arms and hands, this is your resource.  Subscribe, listen, and share to help us 'give pain the middle finger for good'!  This is a resource to help you mitigate pain at home and become more educated on what to ask your doctors and therapists. No medical advice will be given, and you should always see your medical professional for any questions.  Thank you, and welcome to the show!

  7. Sep 18

    Why A “Small” Finger Injury Can Escalate

    We share quick, practical ways to tell when a wrist or finger injury is likely broken, and why guessing can cost you time and function. We also explain what drooping fingertips, misshapen joints, and sharp bone tenderness can mean, plus when to get an X-ray and hand therapy.  • common ways the distal radius breaks after a fall on an outstretched hand  • signs of a fracture including focal bone tenderness and a visible or palpable step-off  • jammed finger mechanics that can cause an avulsion fracture and drooping fingertip (mallet finger)  • how a clamshell orthosis supports healing and why strict splint discipline matters  • when a hand surgeon may use a K-wire pin and how weaning works after healing  • why finger dislocations and deformities still need evaluation even after relocation  • percussion test basics as a clue for possible finger fracture  Check it out, carlpetitto.com Support the show Work with Carl! Check out the website - www.carlpetitto.com SUPPORT THE SHOW HERE: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BM23TS2LDQVFS Hello and welcome to the show, The Hand to Shoulder Solution, with me, Carl Petitto.  If you are experiencing pain in your arms and hands, this is your resource.  Subscribe, listen, and share to help us 'give pain the middle finger for good'!  This is a resource to help you mitigate pain at home and become more educated on what to ask your doctors and therapists. No medical advice will be given, and you should always see your medical professional for any questions.  Thank you, and welcome to the show!

  8. Aug 28

    Simple Forearm, Wrist, And Hand Stretches That Actually Work

    We walk through practical, therapist-tested stretches for forearm, wrist, thumb, and finger stiffness so you can regain motion without inflaming your joints. We also explain why stretching should feel like a controlled pull, not pain, and how a short routine with rest beats constant stretching.  • common causes of stiffness including arthritis, surgery, and old injuries  • why the wrist and forearm are mechanically complex and need specific positioning  • building a simple home program that takes about five minutes  • forearm palm up and palm down stretches with a clamp grip and active holds  • wrist flexion and extension technique with fingers open and better hand placement  • ways to modify stretches using a wall, tabletop, or knee for leverage  • thumb flexion toward the base of the little finger and straight-back thumb extension  • making a fist by starting at the big knuckles and working one finger at a time  • finger straightening strategy and why “more stretching” can increase inflammation  Share this with people who might benefit from this.  Thank you for liking and subscribing to the hand to shoulder solution, where we are the solution to your pain. Support the show Work with Carl! Check out the website - www.carlpetitto.com SUPPORT THE SHOW HERE: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BM23TS2LDQVFS Hello and welcome to the show, The Hand to Shoulder Solution, with me, Carl Petitto.  If you are experiencing pain in your arms and hands, this is your resource.  Subscribe, listen, and share to help us 'give pain the middle finger for good'!  This is a resource to help you mitigate pain at home and become more educated on what to ask your doctors and therapists. No medical advice will be given, and you should always see your medical professional for any questions.  Thank you, and welcome to the show!

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About

Your new resource for hand, shoulder, and elbow pain. Together, we are giving pain the middle finger and gaining knowledge to live a better, pain-free life!Discover what might be causing pain in your fingers, pain in your hand, pain in your wrist, pain in your arm, pain in your elbow, pain in your shoulder.  Learn about your body, arthritis, tendinitis, tennis elbow, fractures, golfer's elbow, and carpal tunnel syndrome.Hosted by Carl Petitto, OT, CHT, and Certified Hand Therapist specializing in orthopedic conditions of the hand to shoulder. Also an expert in fabricating custom orthotics. 

Information

  • Creator
    Carl Petitto
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    103
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Hand to Shoulder Solution
  • Show Website
    The Hand to Shoulder Solution