Hand therapy is a type of rehabilitation performed by our physical therapists on patients with conditions affecting the hands and upper extremities. Such therapy is performed by a provider with a high degree of specialization that enables the hand therapist to work with patients to hasten their return to a productive lifestyle.
Patients who are candidates for hand therapy may have been affected by an accident or trauma leaving them with wounds, scars, burns, injured tendons or nerves, fractures, or even amputations of the fingers, hands, or arms. Others include patients who suffer from the effects of conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow, as well as chronic problems such as arthritis or other neurologic conditions. Hand therapy includes the following:
- Preventative, non-operative or conservative treatment
- Management of acute or chronic pain
- Desensitization following nerve injury or trauma
- Sensory re-education after nerve injury
- Design and implementation of home exercise programs to increase motion, dexterity, and/or strength
- Splint fabrication for prevention or correction of injury
- Training in the performance of daily life skills through adapted methods and equipment
- Conditioning prior to returning to work
