What is Hand Therapy?

Hand Surgery Recovery: What is Hand Therapy?

Hand therapy is a non-surgical approach to managing hand disorders and injuries. It can be part of the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of various hand conditions. If you’re wondering what is hand therapy, keep reading to find out.

So, What is Hand Therapy?

Hand therapists use physical methods like exercise, stretches, splinting, and wound care to manage, treat, and prevent hand conditions. Essentially, hand therapy involves a number of non-surgical techniques to help improve a condition. 

If you’re recovering from a hand or wrist injury or a hand surgical operation, hand therapy is a crucial part of your recovery. After your hand surgery and some healing, a hand therapist would guide you through rehabilitation. This could involve physiotherapy like stretching and exercises to regain strength and improve range of motion.

Hand therapy is a crucial element of successful recovery and rehabilitation. Typically, hand therapy starts with an initial conversation and evaluation. This helps your hand therapist to learn and understand the type of symptoms you’re experiencing and your goals. They will then create a plan with goals and give you the tools you need to move forward.   

What is Hand Therapy?

What Conditions Can You Treat with Hand Therapy?

A hand therapist specialises in the rehabilitation of conditions that affect the hands and upper limbs. They would have a big role to play in the post-operative care of hand surgery. Because our hands are so integral to performing simple daily tasks, hand therapy is a key part of regaining full power, strength, and motion following an injury or operation. 

A hand therapist can provide helpful tools and exercises to regain strength following a hand operation. Hand therapy also plays a role in treatment without an operation in more mild cases of certain hand conditions. Hand therapy can help with a range of conditions, including: 

What Does Hand Therapy Involve?

Hand therapy can include a range of techniques and tools for patients, such as:

  • Teaching at-home exercises to improve strength and movement 
  • Help to get back to sports or hobbies 
  • Supporting recovery after surgery 

An example of exercises could be active hand and finger exercises where you would use your own strength. This could be using a hand therapy ball to gradually improve strength. When it comes to other strengthening exercises, hand therapists use a variety of tools like putty, grippers, and weights. 

The precise program you follow will depend on your condition, severity of the condition, healing, and goals. Performing the wrong exercises or pushing your hands too soon after surgery could delay healing further. By working alongside a hand therapist, you can have the tools you need to regain normal strength and range of movement following surgery. 

Hand Therapy at The Harley Clinic 

Hand therapy can help patients to return to a productive lifestyle without the continuous effects of the condition. Hand and wrist rehabilitation are key in hand surgery and producing optimal results. 

At The Harley Clinic, we offer a range of hand and upper limb procedures. If you’re concerned about a hand condition or considering hand therapy, book a consultation today at our Harley Street cosmetic surgery clinic. 

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