Hand Therapy
Hand Therapy is a Specialized form of Physical Therapy Focused on Rehabilitation Conditions Affecting the Hands, Wrists, and Upper Extremities.
Hand Therapy
Hand Therapy is rehabilitation performed on patients with complex conditions, injuries and
surgeries affecting the hands, wrists and elbows. This type of therapy is performed by a therapist
with advanced specialization that requires continuing education and advanced certification. This
professional is known as a Certified Hand Therapist, known by the CHT after his/her name.
Who needs hand therapy?
The hand is a complicated structure. Therefore, hand injuries can be challenging to treat. Patients
who have been operated on by a hand surgeon usually require treatment from a hand therapist.
Injuries to tendons, nerves, fractures of the bones of the hand, amputations of the fingers, ands or
arms, burns, scars and overuse injuries may need treatment from a hand therapist. Hand
therapists make custom splints to aid in the healing process.
What does hand therapy provide?
Preventative, non-operative or conservative treatment:
° Management of pain, both acute and chronic
° 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
Postoperative Rehabilitation may additionally include:
° 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
Overuse / Repetitive Injuries:
° Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
° Tendonitis
° Tennis Elbow
° Trigger Finger
Chronic Hand Conditions:
° Arthritis: Rheumatoid or Osteoarthritis
° Dupuytren’s Contracture
° DeQuervain’s Disease
° Raynaud’s Syndrome
° Writer’s Cramp
° Musician Injuries
Acute or Traumatic Hand Injuries:
° Amputation
° Crush Injuries
° Fractures
° Ligament Injuries
° Post-Operative Upper Extremity Conditions
° Radial and Ulnar Nerve Palsy
° Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
° Replantation
° Tendon or Nerve Lacerations
° Upper extremity Sports Injuries
