Our hands are amazing – and very important. We use them to eat and drink, to work and play, to build and create. They are such an important part of our lives that they often go unappreciated until something happens that takes them away from us. When pain, injury, or disease makes it difficult to use our hands like we want and need to, it can have very serious ramifications for our work, our daily activities, and our most basic needs.
This is why hand therapy can be so important to so many different people. When our hands are not operating at their full capacity, it affects nearly every aspect of our lives.
What Is Hand Therapy?
Hand therapy is a specialized type of therapy focused on the hands, wrists, and forearms. It is provided by physical and occupational therapists with advanced training in treating upper extremity conditions. It can cover a wide range of treatments including manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, splinting, wound and scar care, functional training, and more. Often hand therapy will be provided by a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), indicating advanced expertise in these areas.
So, who is hand therapy for? The short answer is it’s for everyone. Any person, regardless of age, occupation, fitness level, or lifestyle can find themselves in a position to benefit from hand therapy. Some examples of when you may need hand therapy include:
- You have an injury. An obvious use case for hand therapy would be after an injury. This can include direct trauma like cuts or crush injuries, repetitive strain injuries, nerve injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, and many other types of injuries that can affect your ability to enjoy the full use of your hands and wrists.
- You are recovering from surgery. Recovering from surgery in your extremities can be a long, frustrating process. Professional hand therapy can go a long way toward helping you recover quickly, safely, and effectively.
- You have pain, swelling, or stiffness. Maybe you haven’t had surgery and aren’t aware of any injury, but still find you’re suffering from pain, swelling, or stiffness in your hands or wrists. There are many conditions – including arthritis and osteoarthritis – that can cause discomfort in your extremities. A hand therapist can assess your condition and provide you with personalized treatment to get your hands back in business.
- You have difficulty with fine motor tasks or everyday activities. If you find that you have trouble with daily activities like brushing your teeth, opening jars, or buttoning a shirt, hand therapists are trained in administering assessments and helping to improve functional manipulation skills.
- Your doctor recommended a hand splint or brace. If you need a splint or brace, over-the-counter options are often ill-fitting and uncomfortable. Hand therapists are specially trained to fabricate custom splints that optimize your comfort and healing.
These are some examples of situations where a person can benefit from hand therapy, but there are many others. Basically, anyone whose hand function impacts their ability to work, play, or care for themselves should reach out to a hand therapist for an evaluation.
What to Expect During Hand Therapy
The first thing you can expect is a professional assessment of your situation and condition. Hand therapists are especially qualified to determine the source of problems in your hands or wrists. Your therapist can then provide whatever therapy is most appropriate to your needs – whether it be manual manipulation, a customized exercise program, functional training, splinting or other orthotics, or any other treatment options that would provide the best outcome for you.
Your therapist will also monitor your progress and adjust your treatment program as needed. Your treatment will always be customized to your condition, lifestyle, and goals.
If you feel like you may be a candidate for hand therapy, it’s important to reach out to a therapist as quickly as possible. Early intervention can greatly improve outcomes, helping to reduce pain and restore function more quickly. Also, ignoring symptoms can potentially lead to a small problem becoming much bigger, longer lasting, and more difficult to treat.
At Strive! Physical Therapy Centers, we provide specialized hand therapy services at our West Marion clinic, where you’ll receive the same quality treatment Strive! has been providing Ocala area residents for more than 40 years. Call us today at 906-932-4200 to schedule a free consultation. We can help determine if you are a candidate for hand therapy services and answer any questions you may have.
