The Hand to Shoulder Solution

Carl Petitto

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. Aug 7

    When Elbow Sleeves Help And When They Hurt;

    We break down why elbow sleeves can worsen common elbow pain and even trigger nerve symptoms instead of helping. We explain when compression is a bad idea, what warning signs to watch for, and why a proper assessment beats a quick brace fix.  • common reasons for elbow pain including golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow  • how the ulnar nerve causes the “funny bone” feeling  • cubital tunnel syndrome signs like numbness and tingling on the pinky side  • why compression and rubbing from sleeves can increase inflammation and pain  • daily habits that add pressure on the cubital tunnel such as leaning on tables and car armrests  • why the elbow is complex and deserves a real evaluation when pain is deep or motion-specific  • choosing strength and stability training with a therapist instead of relying on a sleeve  Check me out, CarlPetitto.com. Write in with questions. 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. Jul 10

    How Mirror Therapy Rebuilds Hand Control After Immobilization Or Stroke

    Your brain can lose movement clarity faster than most people realize, and that “clumsy” feeling after a cast, a long layoff, or a stroke is not just weakness. We dig into mirror therapy, a simple technique that uses visual feedback to help the motor cortex remember how to coordinate muscles again, sometimes with surprisingly fast results. We share a powerful clinic moment with a stroke survivor who could not make a fist smoothly. After about five minutes working with a mirror, her hand began to open and close with far better control, and the emotional impact hit everyone in the room. From there, we break down what makes mirror therapy work, why you must keep your eyes on the reflection, and how small details like a watch or ring can tip your brain off and weaken the effect. You’ll learn how to build a basic mirror box at home, then follow clear drills for the upper extremity: fist timing, fingertip-to-thumb patterns, thumb to the base of the small finger, wrist motion, and forearm rotation. We also expand beyond hand therapy into shoulder and elbow retraining, using reach patterns and touch cues to rebuild confidence and range. Along the way, we connect it to neuroplasticity, the homunculus, and the idea of a “smudged” movement map that can be sharpened through focused practice. If you want practical stroke rehabilitation ideas, home exercises for hand recovery, or a smarter way to return after immobilization, press play. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find it. 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. Jun 26

    How To Protect Loose Wrists In Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

    Wrist pain with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome can feel unfair: you’re trying to stay strong, but the joint keeps acting “loose” and unpredictable. We walk through what’s actually happening when ligaments are too flexible, why that creates wrist instability, and how certain training habits quietly make it worse. If you’ve ever wondered why a heavy bag, knuckle push-ups, or even pushing up from a chair can light up your wrist, this conversation connects the dots in plain language. Carl gets specific about mechanics and movement choices. We talk about when open-hand weight bearing may be slightly better, how to “dose” push-ups so you are not hammering the joint with nonstop reps, and why extreme wrist ranges are a bad trade for hypermobility. You’ll also hear practical cues for pressing in the gym, including keeping a neutral wrist and pushing through the heel of the palm to reduce hyperextension and help prevent impaction issues often called gymnast wrist. Strength work is still on the table, but the target is muscle control and stability, not end-range stretch. Carl also share a simple athletic tape or kinesiology tape wrap that can add stability and confidence during workouts, plus a warm-up “don’t” that surprises a lot of people: skipping wrist rolling circles. If this helps you train with less pain and more control, subscribe, share it with a friend managing hypermobility, and leave a quick review so more people can find these wrist stability strategies. 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. Jun 19

    Post-Op Hand Therapy Timing Matters

    Your surgery date isn’t the only date that matters. We’re joined by Carl Petito from Hand to Shoulder Solution, a hand therapist who works directly alongside orthopedic surgeons and orthopedic PAs, to share a quick but powerful recovery tip: schedule your post-operative hand therapy at the same time you schedule your surgery. It’s a simple planning move that can reduce stress and protect your results, especially after hand and wrist procedures. Carl walks us through what happens behind the scenes in an orthopedic office once a surgery is booked: the surgeon’s order, the procedure details (like scaphoid repair), and how a therapist uses best-practice timelines to decide whether you should be seen four to five days after surgery, one week after, or two weeks after. The goal is not speed for speed’s sake, but the right timing for tissue healing and safe progress. We also dig into why this timing matters for real-life outcomes. When therapy starts late, excessive stiffness can set in, swelling can become harder to resolve, and pain can ramp up. Early hand therapy focuses on optimal healing, safe range of motion, clear wound care education, and often a custom orthosis that replaces a bulky dressing and helps you feel better right away. If you’re planning hand surgery, wrist surgery, or post-op rehab, this is your reminder to treat scheduling as part of the treatment plan. Subscribe, share this with someone facing surgery, and leave a review with your best post-op recovery question. 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!

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.