Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation Therapies

Health Topics A-Z

Health Topics by Category



   

 

About Physical Therapy: A Patient’s Guide

Hand Therapy


Hand therapists treat patients with such diverse diagnoses as:

  • Fractures
  • Tendon lacerations
  • Nerve damage
  • Sprains
  • Carpal tunnel
  • Tendonitis
  • Congenital defects
  • Amputations
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

Certified hand therapists will perform a thorough examination of the musculoskeletal and neurological function, from which they design individualized programs for patient management.

Hand rehabilitation may include customized splinting to protect healing tissues, obtain desired positions and motion, or substitute for decreased function.

Exercise programs address specific needs such as joint stiffness, muscle weakness or imbalance, conditioning for occupations or athletic demands, and maximizing function. A therapist may recommend adaptive devices and modifications in the home or work environment to allow patients to function as effectively and safely as possible.

Next Page | Previous Page | Title Page


Last modification date: Mon Aug 7 13:11:57 2006
URL: http://www.uihealthcare.com /topics/medicaldepartments/orthopaedics/physicaltherapy/hand.html