Hand Therapy is the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper limb – shoulder to hand. It involves evaluation and testing to assess the injured limb from which a specific treatment program can be designed. A variety of specialised treatment techniques are used to achieve these goals.
Hand therapy consists of specialised education and training and includes therapeutic interventions-such as customised splint fabrication, pressure garment fabrication, modalities, therapeutic exercise, soft tissue mobilisation, joint mobilisation, patient education, return to work programmes and functional activities. The conditions seen may include:
- Fractures and dislocations
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Flexor and extensor tendon injuries
- Peripheral nerve injuries
- Traumatic crush injuries
- Amputations
- Burns
- Sports injuries
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis