Hand Therapy

What is hand therapy?

Hand therapy is a type of rehabilitation performed by an occupational or physical therapist on patients with conditions affecting the hands and upper extremities. Such therapy is performed by a provider with a high degree of specialization that requires continuing education and, often, advanced certification.

Who is a candidate for hand therapy?

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 suffering from the effects of conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tennis elbow, as well as from such chronic problems as arthritis.

What does hand therapy provide?

• 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

What does postoperative rehabilitation do?

• Management of open or sutured wounds (prevention of infection and assistance in healing)
• Control of hypertrophic (raised and/or swollen) or hypersensitive scars
• Reduction of swelling
• Fabrication of orthoses to protect surgery or increase movement
• Instruction in home exercise program