Treatments

Hand therapy treatment includes:

• Accurate assessment and diagnosis of upper limb injuries and conditions: Hand therapists are Occupational therapists and Physiotherapists that complete postgraduate training to enhance their expertise in the assessment and diagnosis of injuries and conditions affecting the elbow, wrist, hand and fingers.

 

• Acute fracture management: Hand therapists are able to refer patients for appropriate imaging either directly or via a specialist, who will assist in identifying fractures/broken bones. Hand therapists are trained in the ability to cast or splint fractures, when appropriate, or refer a patient onwards if required. 

 

• Wound care and removal of sutures: Hand therapists will complete postoperative suture removal and wound care dressing, or refer you on for further management if required. 

 

• Manual therapy: Hand therapists are able to provide safe mobilisation of joints and soft tissues, including therapeutic massage to improve movement and function.

 

• Scar management: Hand therapists are trained in the techniques of scar management which may include massage, desensitisation, taping, and scar management product use. 

• Pain management strategies: Pain is a common bodily response to an injury or condition, however sometimes this response is not helpful and can delay your rehabilitation, rather than enhance it. Hand therapists are able to assist their clients in the strategies of managing their pain through education, desensitisation, functional reactivation training and onward referrals as required. 

• Casting: The application of a cast to protect injured or damaged tissue is common in medical practice. Hand therapists have been trained in being able to apply appropriate casts for the management of fractures and other conditions.
 

• Custom made braces/splints: Braces and splints aren’t ‘one size fits all’ devices, it’s important to get the right one for you to allow you to feel comfortable and supported in work and completing daily activities where possible - protecting injuries, decreasing pain, enhancing movement and facilitating healing without interfering with quality of life. Hand therapists can design and provide ongoing adjustments to custom fabricated splints and braces, accounting for factors including flexibility, lifestyle (and many more) to allow you confidence as you recover.

 

• Exercise therapy: Exercises are a series of movements that are designed to regain movement and strength to your tissues. Hand therapists are proficient in the prescription of exercises to their clients that enhance their client rehab outcomes. 

 

• Functional Rehabilitation: Returning to the use of your arm and hand in daily activities is often the goal for both the hand therapist and their client. Hand therapists are able to make use of functional daily activities by grading these through activity analysis and then using these activities as a programme for rehabilitation. 

 

• Referral onward to Specialist Hand Surgeons, Sports Doctors and other health professionals: Collaboration between clinicians is key when completing a rehabilitation programme. Hand therapists have well developed connections with key clinicians including hand surgeons and other rehab professionals that will assist in enhancing a clients' rehab journey. 

 

• Oedema management: Oedema is swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body's tissues. Although oedema can affect any part of your body, it may be more noticeable in hands, arms, feet, ankles and legs.