What is Hand Therapy?

Hand therapy refers to a wide range of nonoperative treatments that are administered by hand therapists for hand injuries and conditions. Certified Hand Therapists (CHTs) are medical professionals who have gone through either Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy training programs, and then completed years of additional specialty training and experience focused on treating hand and wrist problems. At Hand Institute of Charleston, our surgeons work directly with our on-site Certified Hand Therapist to customize treatment plans to the needs of each patient.

What types of hand and wrist problems benefit from therapy?

 

Many conditions benefit from the addition of hand therapy to the treatment plan. Your surgeon may recommend therapy as part of treatment for:

  • Post-operative pain/stiffness/edema/weakness/scarring
  • Hand and wrist injuries
  • Tendonitis
  • Arthritis
  • Contractures
  • Nerve injuries

What types of treatments are offered?


Using ball squeeze hand therapy
Ball Squeeze Hand Therapy
Hand Therapy using a peg board
Peg Board Hand Therapy


Patient doing hand therapy in a custom orthotic brace.
Custom Therapy Bracing

Patient having an ultrasound of the wrist.
Therapeutic Ultrasound

 

Certified Hand Therapists offer a wide variety of nonoperative treatment and rehabilitation options for hand and wrist problems:

  • Custom Splinting
  • Post-operative and post-injury rehabilitation and wound care
  • Training for functional activities
  • Custom therapy programs to improve strength and range of motion
  • Edema management
  • Scar desensitization
  • Ultrasound, paraffin bath, and other treatments to reduce pain or enhance healinghand and wrist surgeries require general anesthesia.

Ready to confirm a diagnosis and fix the problem or just want to learn more?

Our board-certified orthopedic hand and wrist surgeons Eric Angermeier, MD and Kyle Kokko, MD, PhD, are here to help! They can often diagnose the problem in one visit, and get you started with a treatment plan. We offer a wide variety of both nonoperative and operative treatment options.

Call today for a clinic or telehealth appointment! 854-429-4263