What Is Hand Therapy?

Hand therapy helps a patient regain maximum use of his or her hand after injury, surgery or the onset of disease. Treatment is provided by a hand therapist. To become a hand therapist,  your health care professional must first train as an occupational or physical therapist and then receive additional training in hand therapy.
Hand therapists teach exercises, apply modalities and create custom splints to help the hand heal and to protect it from additional injury.

There are numerous types of disorders and types of trauma to the wrist, hand and fingers that are treated by Hand Therapists. Some of the most common conditions are:

• Fractures
• Tendon injuries
• Joint problems associated with Rheumatoid arthritis and Osteoarthritis
• Injury to nerves of the upper extremity
• Cumulative trauma conditions
• Amputation of the arm or fingers
• Crushing injuries