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Hand therapy, a specialty practice area of Occupational Therapy. Hand therapy typically is concerned with treating orthopaedic-based and neurologically based upper-extremity conditions. This art and science of rehabilitation focuses on the shoulder down to the fingers on an individual post injury, trauma or surgery or onset of a disease. Some conditions seen by the Occupational Therapy practitioner specializing in this area include fractures of the hand or arm, lacerations and amputations, burns, and surgical repairs of tendons and nerves. Acquired conditions such as tendonitis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome also are treated by Occupational Therapy practitioners specializing in hand rehabilitation. Ideally, these conditions should be treated conservatively first.

 

Hand therapy’s goal is to regain maximum function, independence and reintegration into all activities of daily living. Hand therapy treats patients by using exercises and activities. The application of treatment modalities and the fabrication of custom-made splints to the individual’s requirements based on their injury to help the hand heal and protect the hand/ upper limb from further damage.

 

Treatment also emphasises the reintegration back into the workplace/ school, activities of daily living and sports and leisure time activities.

 

Treatment includes splinting when necessary. Splints are made out of a low temperature thermoplastic and are made and measured to fit each individual patient and fabricated to their own specific injury. For example: a splint would be made for individuals who require immobilisation of any necessary joints to protect a fracture or tendon. Gaining range of motion is essential, managing swelling and pain is included in our therapy as well as normalising sensation. Strengthening is then addressed once the injury has stabilised.

 

Fabricating pressure garments are also a large part of our work. Pressure garments are used to address the management of swelling and scars. Most commonly pressure garments are fabricated for those individuals who have sustained burns or undergone surgeries requiring skin grafts or flaps.

 

Management of arthritis is also a large part of our practice, both in adults and children. We treat arthritis in the post-surgical phase and conservatively looking at joint protection principles, adaptations to activities of daily living as well as splinting and soft tissue management to prevent further deterioration of the joint’s prevention of joint and soft tissue deformities.

 

I would like to improve on early intervention, both education and in management of arthritis. I offer early intervention for repetitive strain injuries such as Dequervains tenosynovitis, carpal and cubital tunnel syndromes or injuries/ disorders such as trigger fingers and Dupytrens contractures.