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. This enables the hand therapist to work with patients to hasten their return to a productive lifestyle.
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 (see Figure 1)
- Training in the performance of daily life skills through adapted methods and equipment
- Conditioning prior to returning to work
Learn more about hand therapy.
Find a Hand Therapist Near You
To learn more about Hand Therapy or to find a therapist near you please visit www.htcc.org or www.asht.org. You will need a prescription from your doctor to receive treatment from a hand therapist.
Content provided by the American Society of Hand Therapists.