Health Nest

01/06/2026

3 Common Finger Injuries We See From Netball

Finger injuries are incredibly common in netball, but not all finger injuries are the same. They often occur from:
A fast pass.
A missed catch.
A collision going for the ball.

Here are three we regularly see in clinic:

1. Mallet Finger

What is it?
A tendon injury that affects the ability to straighten the tip of the finger.
Common signs:
✔ Pain and swelling at the end joint
✔ The fingertip droops down
✔ Difficulty actively straightening the finger

2. Volar Plate Injury

What is it?
An injury to the ligament structure on the palm side of the middle finger joint, often caused by the finger being forced backwards.
Common signs:
✔ Swelling around the middle joint
✔ Bruising
✔ Pain when bending or straightening
✔ Stiffness developing over time

3. Finger Fracture

What is it?
A break in one of the finger bones.
Common signs:
✔ Significant swelling
✔ Bruising
✔ Tenderness over the bone
✔ Difficulty moving the finger
✔ Sometimes a crooked appearance

When Should You Get It Checked?
If your finger is:
Swollen
Bruised
Painful
Difficult to move
Looking a bit "not quite right".. it may be worth having it assessed.

At Health Nest, we can assess finger injuries, organise imaging when needed, provide custom splints, and create a treatment plan to help you return to sport safely.

Because getting back on the court is important, but having good hand use for years to come is even better!!

Two ways to book an appointment with us:
Ph: 03 6338 1880
Online: www.healthnest.com.au

01/06/2026

"It's just a sprained finger..."!!! (or is it!!)

This Hand Therapy Week, we're celebrating the role hand therapists play in helping people get back to the sports, hobbies and activities they love.

Because sometimes "just a sprained finger" isn't quite as simple as it seems.

Every week we see people who injured a finger playing sport and assumed it would settle on its own.

A ball hits the end of the finger.

A finger gets caught in a jumper.

A tackle goes wrong.

The finger swells, hurts and becomes difficult to move.

So we tell ourselves:

👉 "It's probably just sprained."
👉 "I'll give it a few weeks."
👉 "It'll come good."

Sometimes it does.

Sometimes it doesn't.

What looks like a simple sprain can occasionally be:
• A fracture
• A ligament injury
• A tendon injury
• A joint dislocation

The tricky part? Many people can still move their finger and continue playing. This doesn't always mean it is fine.

If you have a finger injury that is:
✓ swollen
✓ bruised
✓ painful to move
✓ difficult to straighten or bend
✓ not improving after a few days
.. it may be worth having it assessed. We are trained in assessing and treating upper limb injuries and hands are our passion. We can help you know if it really is fine, or it there is something else going on.

It's easy to book. Ph: 03 6338 1880 or jump online to book through our website www.healthnest.com.au

19/05/2026

Not every sore hand or wrist needs imaging.
And not every scan gives useful answers.

At Health Nest, we look at the whole picture first.... your injury, how it happened, symptoms, movement, strength, swelling, pain patterns, and how things are impacting your day-to-day life.

Sometimes imaging is incredibly valuable.
Sometimes it won’t change the treatment plan at all.

That’s why we take a thoughtful approach when deciding whether scans like:
• X-rays
• Ultrasound
• MRI
• CT scans
are actually needed.

When imaging is appropriate, we can:
👍 Refer for the right xray
👍 Explain what the results actually mean
👍 Help you understand what matters (and what often doesn’t!)
👍 Guide you on next steps
👍 Discuss when a surgical opinion may or may not be appropriate
👍 Keep things moving so you feel less stuck and overwhelmed

Because getting “an image” is only one part of the puzzle.
Understanding what to do with the findings matters just as much.

We are here to help. You can make an appt via our website or call us on 03 6338 1880. www.healthnest.com.au

30/03/2026

Just finished our online session covering three of the most common sports injuries we see through our hand therapy clinic - mallet injuries, dislocated fingers and broken bones. If you'd love to have a listen, we are getting the recording ready - happy to share - let me know in the comments.

26/03/2026

This is one we get asked all the time 👇

“How long do stitches stay in for?”

For hands, it’s usually 10–14 days.

Too early → the wound can reopen
Too late → stitches can become tricky to remove and may impact scarring

There’s a reason we’re a bit particular about timing because it helps everything heal well.

25/03/2026

What's happening here?

This is what is called a mallet injury. This is when the tip of the finger droops down, following forceful contact and you are unable to actively straighten it. Mallet injuries can occur from lots of different things, particularly sports, a laceration to the finger that can cut the tendon or some daily activities such as cleaning!

Did you know, there are two different types of mallet injuries? A bony and tendinous mallet.

A bony mallet is where there is a fracture involved in the injury. This injury takes 6-7 weeks of splinting.

A tendinous mallet does not involve a fracture and takes 8-9 weeks of splinting to allow the tendon to regain strength.

It is important to see a hand therapist for treatment of a mallet, as mallet injury recovery can be a tedious process!

If your finger looks a little something like the photo, give us a call or book online www.healthnest.com.au

20/03/2026

“It didn’t seem that bad at the time…”
You finish the game.
Finger is sore, maybe a bit swollen.
You tape it up, shake it off, and move on.

Then the next morning…
It’s stiff.
You can’t bend it properly.
And suddenly you’re wondering if you should’ve done something sooner.

We see this all the time with sports hand injuries.

The tricky part?
👉 The first 24–48 hours can make a big difference to how well (and how quickly) things recover.

We’re running a free online session to help you feel more confident with what to do early.

We’ll cover:
• what’s normal vs not
• what actually helps in those first few days
• when to get it checked

You can join our free online info session here:
https://healthnest.myflodesk.com/sportsinjurysession

For hand and wrist injuries from sport

17/03/2026

“Is it broken… or just sore?”
It’s one of the most common questions we hear after a sports injury.

Swollen sore fingers, joint sprains and broken bones happen all the time in sports like:
• netball
• AFL
• cricket
• basketball
• touch football

Sometimes they settle quickly.

But sometimes continuing to play can make recovery much longer.

We’re running a free online session to help players, team volunteers and coaches, and parents understand what to do when these injuries happen. We are calling it: “Is it broken or just sore?” - Therapy tips for managing hand injuries from sport.

In the session we’ll cover:
• how to recognise common sports hand injuries
• what to do in the first 48 hours
• when to get an xray or seek professional advice
• how to safely return to sport

This is perfect for:
- players (social sports and those playing in higher levels)
- parents of players
- coaches
- club and team volunteers

👉 Register here: https://healthnest.myflodesk.com/sportsinjurysession

Already injured and don’t want to wait?
Our hand therapy team has appointments available this week. You can book online: https://www.healthnest.com.au/

04/03/2026

Looking after a wound properly can make a big difference to how well you heal.

In our clinics we see wounds from surgery, cuts, tendon repairs, and accidents. While many wounds heal on their own, the way they are managed in those early stages can affect scar formation, stiffness, swelling, and long-term movement.

Good wound care is not just about protecting the skin, it’s about helping the underlying tissues heal well too.

Here are a few simple principles we often talk through with clients:

Keep it clean and dry
Dressings should stay dry when showering and shouldn’t sit soggy on the skin.

Protect the area
Keeping the wound covered helps prevent irritation and reduces infection risk.

Watch for changes
Redness spreading, increasing pain, unusual swelling or discharge should be checked.

Ask questions early
If you’re unsure about dressings, swelling, or how much you can move the area, it’s always better to ask.

Many people are surprised to learn that hand therapy often includes wound management, scar care, and guidance about how to safely start moving again.

When wounds are managed well early, it often means:
• less scar tightness
• better movement
• quicker return to normal activities

If you’ve had surgery or an injury to your hand, wrist or arm and you’re unsure how to manage the wound, we’re always happy to help guide you.

03/03/2026

Most mallet injuries don’t hurt much.

And that’s exactly why they often get ignored for a bit!

A mallet finger happens when the tendon that straightens the tip of your finger is damaged, usually from a sudden bend at the end joint.

You’ll notice:
• The fingertip droops
• You can’t actively straighten it
• It feels weak or floppy

Here’s what many people don’t realise:

Healing depends almost entirely on correct splinting.
Position matters.
Timing matters.
Consistency matters.

And some splints don't do the job well... which can change the outcome.

If you’ve recently injured your finger, this is worth a read. In our blog we talk about why these splints look great, but are not ideal for your mallet injury and why one of our custom made splints is the best option.

https://www.healthnest.com.au/post/3reasonswhystacksplintsarenotidealformalletinjuries