Hand physical therapy

Your hands are busy all day, and there’s hardly a task that doesn’t involve them. So, when you have an injury, pain or limited mobility in your hands, everything suffers.

At Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, our specialized hand physical therapists have a deep knowledge of how the hands work. They create customized treatment plans to help you get back to full function as quickly as possible.

What is hand physical therapy?

Your hands have a complex anatomy and must be able to perform many movements and functions. That’s why, when dealing with a hand condition or injury, it’s important to seek care from a specialized hand therapist.

Hand physical therapists receive advanced, ongoing education and training specific to upper extremities. They treat conditions related to the hands as well as conditions of the wrist, elbow, arm and shoulder.

Your personalized program of hand therapy will depend on your condition, your overall health and your physical movement goals. A hand physical therapist can assist your healing with:

• Education about joint protection
• Splinting, bracing and custom orthotics
• Strategies to manage pain and swelling
• Stretches that enhance mobility
• Targeted exercises to build strength

Types of hand physical therapy

The specific types of hand physical therapy you might need will depend on the condition or injury that needs treatment. Hand therapy can include preventive care, post-surgical care and nonsurgical therapy. This may involve:

• Ergonomic assessments
• Injury recovery
• Re-learning how to perform daily tasks
• Post-surgical rehab
• Sensory re-education to improve sensation after a nerve injury
• Scar treatment

Conditions treated with hand physical therapy

Anyone experiencing hand pain, lack of mobility or an acute injury to the hand or fingers can benefit from hand physical therapy. A specialized hand therapist can be an important of your care team when coping with conditions such as:

• Arthritis
• Burns and wounds
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Fractures
• Nerve and tendon lacerations
• Tennis elbow
• Trigger finger
• Sports injuries
• Work-related injuries

Benefits of hand physical therapy

Restoring pain-free function to your hands is the main benefit of working with a qualified hand physical therapist. For conditions that can’t bring your hand to full function, a hand therapist can teach you how to perform daily functions despite hand limitations.