What You Need to Know About Hand Therapy

Opening doors, closing windows, and opening your hand can all seem like simple tasks, which is why a hand issue or injury can have such a significant impact on your daily routine. From hand arthritis that develops over time to a sudden finger fracture sustained during sports, hand issues can slow you down more than you might expect. One major solution to this common problem is the implementation of hand therapy. This component of occupational and physical therapy is offered at several Raleigh Orthopaedic locations – keep reading to learn what hand therapy is, what it can treat, and how a personalized therapy program can help you get back to your regular routine with ease.

What is Hand Therapy?

Hand therapy is a unique blend of occupational and physical therapy. Physical therapy focuses on stretches and exercises that strengthen essential muscles to improve mobility and function, while occupational therapy prioritizes improving daily life by targeting the things you do the most. Because hand therapy draws on both disciplines, it can provide more well-rounded treatment options that help you perform routine tasks and participate fully in life’s endeavors. Hand therapy is provided by certified hand therapists (CHTs).

What is a Certified Hand Therapist?
Certified hand therapists are occupational or physical therapists who have received a specialized certification from the Hand Therapy Certification Commission. This requires advanced study and commitment, including at least three years of clinical experience and 4,000 hours of direct practice in hand therapy. They must also successfully pass an in-depth examination of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper limb rehabilitation, with certifications renewed every 5 years. This process ensures that CHTs are up to date on the latest therapeutic treatment options and can properly serve patients at every stage of the rehabilitation process.

What is Hand Therapy Used to Treat?

Hand therapy is primarily used to treat the tendons in the hand or arm, and is even capable of rehabilitating the entire upper limb. This includes the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Upper extremity conditions, whether they are chronic or sudden, can worsen without proper care and management, making hand therapy especially important. At Raleigh Orthopaedic, our certified hand therapists have experience treating a wide range of conditions and injuries, including:

Am I the Right Candidate for Hand Therapy?

Hand therapy is a viable treatment option if your condition is skeletal or muscular in nature. Conditions that respond to hand therapy often cause pain in the hand or arms, stiffness, limited mobility, or difficulty completing daily activities. When you seek hand care from Raleigh Orthopaedic, your physician will let you know if hand therapy is the right next step.

Hand Therapy Benefits

Relief from Pain and Swelling

Targeted exercises strengthen muscle groups and alleviate tension in the arms. This can decrease or even eliminate the pain that inhibits your daily life.

Faster Post-Surgical Recovery

Customized rehabilitation programs after surgery provide personalized support and monitoring. This ensures healing and recovery progress smoothly without unnecessary interruptions.

Increased Strength and Range of Motion

Flexibility and functionality exercises help build muscle and coordination over time. Alongside this comes the benefit of gaining strength and flexibility. This improves your ability to perform daily tasks.

Long-Term Injury Prevention

Building an early foundation via healthy practices and lifestyle habits reduces the likelihood of future injuries. A targeted hand therapy plan can address imbalance, weak grip, and other functional issues to support overall orthopedic health.

Key Components of Hand Therapy

Hand therapy covers a broad spectrum of conditions and disorders surrounding the hands, arms, and upper limbs. Because of this, treatment options can vary greatly by patient depending on condition progression, severity, and symptoms. Ensuring that recovery plans are designed to fit each patient’s individual needs is not only a requirement; it’s a step our Raleigh Orthopaedic therapists take pride in. Key components of hand therapy include:

Exercise and Stretching: Exercises included in hand therapy treatment plans often focus on improving coordination, mobility, strength, and task execution. Common routines include resistance band stretches, finger stretches, and wrist stretches.
Tailored Exercise Program: An exercise regimen provided by a hand therapist can be beneficial in promoting everyday movement and physical activity. A tailored exercise program can be especially important for athletes focused on long-term recovery and performance.
Manual Therapy: This is a type of physiotherapy that involves the direct manipulation and movement of joints or limbs. Through this, a hand therapist can better identify areas of improvement for a patient while also working toward reducing pain and improving mobility. Examples include soft tissue massages, joint mobilization, and joint movement exercises.
Occupational Therapy Techniques: Occupational therapy techniques are often broken down into assessment of condition, treatment, and improvement of lifestyle activities. To support these initiatives, CHTs often utilize certain medical techniques. These may include fine motor skill training to improve coordination and activity modification to teach patients adjusted ways of performing everyday tasks.
Custom Splinting: When your wrist and arm pain occurs while in a certain position, it may be time for a splint. A splint is a medical device similar to a brace that restricts movement. It is most beneficial when the cause of pain is an inflamed or overused area of the hand or arm that needs rest.
Pain Management: Pain management is a common reason patients seek treatment from a hand therapist. In cases of carpal tunnel, arthritis, and sprains, pain, numbness, or burning can be prominent. This is why many of the treatment techniques in a CHT’s arsenal can be combined to alleviate pain in the arms and hands. Medication to relieve pain or inflammation is an option for many patients as well. The benefit of pain management is that there is often no need for surgery or intensive recovery since many non-surgical options are available.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hand Therapy

How long does hand therapy take?

The duration of hand therapy depends on the progression of your condition and its severity. In cases of carpal tunnel from overuse and strain, rehabilitation typically takes less than 8 weeks. Chronic conditions such as arthritis may require time-intensive treatment in the first 12-16 weeks, alongside long-term patient support to prevent future complications. Your therapist will be able to give you a specific timeline based on your unique situation.

Will my hand therapist work with my doctor?

Absolutely. Hand therapists at Raleigh Orthopedic work extensively with our board-certified orthopedic surgeons to ensure that care plans are as cohesive as possible. We have several specialists in elbow, hand, and wrist care who work closely with our certified hand therapist network.

What should I bring to my first hand therapy appointment?

To make your first hand therapy appointment as beneficial as possible, please be sure to bring:

Documents for identification, such as your ID and insurance card.
Any referrals or medical records related to your condition given by a healthcare provider.
Comfortable and unrestrictive clothing that is easy to move in. Specifically, nothing that will restrict or obscure your arm, hand, and elbow.
A list of your active medications or prescriptions.
Questions or comments you have for your hand therapist.

What kind of hand exercises will I have to do at home?

After your first therapy session, you may be given a program or list of exercises to complete at home. Your personalized hand therapy plan will vary depending on your diagnosis, symptoms, and stage of recovery. The goal is to reinforce the progress made during therapy sessions and help you safely regain strength, mobility, and function. At-home hand therapy exercises may include:

Range-of-motion exercises to improve flexibility in the fingers, hand, wrist, and forearm.
Stretching exercises to reduce stiffness and improve joint mobility.
Strengthening exercises using therapy balls, hand grippers, rubber bands, or light resistance tools.

Regardless of what your at-home program consists of, it’s important you remain consistent in its application. Frequently missed or forgotten exercises can delay progress and recovery.

Get Started with Personalized Hand Therapy Services in Wake County from Raleigh Orthopedic Clinic

Don’t let a hand injury or condition keep you from living life to the fullest. At Raleigh Orthopaedic, personalized hand therapy services are available at our therapy offices in Cary, Clayton, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Raleigh, and Wakefield. When you work with a member of our therapy team, you’ll receive personalized care, expert guidance, and compassionate support every step of the way. Contact your nearest clinic location to get started! We look forward to helping you get back to comfortable living.