Hand Therapy treatments are personalised based on the outcome of your assessment and diagnosis.
Education
We consider education one of the most important aspects of therapy.
Understanding your condition allows you to take a direct and positive role in your recovery. We will provide education and information about your condition and its management.
Mobilization of joints and soft tissues
The goal here is to increase movement of joints, muscles, tendons, and nerves. There are many techniques designed to restore mobility and flexibility. Some of the more common techniques your hand therapist may use are:
- Soft Tissue Techniques eg. Massage, Myofascial
- Release, Mobilization with Movement
- Joint Mobilization
- Stretching
- Acupuncture and Muscle stimulation are adjuncts that may be used to help increase range of motion.
… After over-exerting myself in my fitness profession, I had a great deal of hand and wrist pain. Tina was able to provide me with simple and effective workouts, as well as an acupuncture session. I would highly recommend the services that Tina provides to anybody – in fact I already do to my staff and clients. Thank-you for making my wrist feel 100% functional now!
Chantelle Beasley, Google review
Development and monitoring of an exercise program
As your mobility in the injured tissues increase, and when appropriate, (based on your tissue healing), an exercise program will be started. These exercises are designed to maximize your recovery by increasing your range of motion, strength, or functional ability. Your hand therapist will carefully select and instruct you in specific exercises to assist in reaching your functional goals.
The exercises may be specific exercises that are to be done in the clinic using specific hand strengthening equipment, bands, and weights available in the clinic or they may be assigned as a progressive home program, to be done outside of clinic regularly between treatment sessions.
Splinting
Custom splints will be selected and fabricated, as required, for support, protection, pain relief, function, and mobilization.
Management of scar tissue
The goal here is to decrease existing scar, restore mobility, and manage the formation of new scar tissue to prevent contractures and thickened painful scars. Treatment may include the use of scar massage exercises, hot packs, therapeutic ultrasound, pressure garments, splinting.
Management of swelling
Several techniques are available to manage and reduce swelling including: Ice, contrast baths, therapeutic ultrasound, TENS, Interferential Current (IFC) stimulation, retrograde massage, pressure garments, elevation, and exercise.
Normalization of sensation by desensitization or re-sensitization
Often after surgery or an injury, there is hypersensitivity or numbness around the scar. A program of desensitization helps minimize the uncomfortable sensations. Re-sensitization helps re-organize the perception of touch as the nerve recovers