Hand Therapy Program

A Comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for hand or arm pain and/or dysfunction.

A hand therapist is a specially trained occupational or physical therapist who focuses on treatment of the upper extremity from shoulder to fingertips.

A hand therapist can:

• Evaluate, clean and dress wounds.
• Fabricate custom splints to support or correct problems in the fingers, hand, wrist and elbow.
• Treat hands that are swollen, stiff and painful.
• Facilitate the return of full functional use following hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder fractures, lacerations and sprains.
• Use functional activities to restore normal upper extremity motion after shoulder injuries, including factures, tendonitis and rotator cuff repair.
• Consult with patients and employers regarding ergonomics, posture and exercises to prevent on-the-job injury.
• Work with arthritis patients to decrease pain, tech joint protection and restore independence through the use of adaptive equipment.
• Work with patients who have suffered a stroke (CVA), brain injury, or suffer from Parkinson’s disease or another illness to regain function and restore independence.

At the Rehabilitation Institute of Edward White Hospital, our hand therapy staff includes a senior occupational therapist/certified hand therapist with more than 23 years of experience, and two licenses occupational therapists with a focused study of hand therapy.

The staff treats a wide array of diagnoses and offers free screenings to any patient who is experiencing arm or hand pain and/or dysfunction.  They typically employ activity analysis to determine what tips or modifications can be used to maximize independence relating to self care, work and leisure activities.

The Hand Therapy Program also specializes in splint fabrication utilizing low temperature plastics, which allows easy adjustment for fluctuations in swelling of the hand.  These splints are less costly than those made by an orthotist, and compared to splints made of other materials, are more comfortable to splints made of other materials, are more comfortable and lightweight for the patient to wear.

For more information, or to make an appointment, please call 727-328-6290.