Hand occupational therapist is the one who offers preventative care, post-operational rehabilitation, non-operative therapy, hand, and upper extremity therapy services.  Upper extremity therapy includes arms, hands, wrists, shoulders, elbows, and forearms. It usually caused by injury or chronic condition which require therapeutic assistance.  Hand therapists help individuals with an impairment in completing their everyday tasks. They work to improve their muscle and joint movement which lessen the pain and help the individual to move the hand freely and easily. It can be treated at the ease of the home which provides the patient hassle-free treatment. There are different rehabilitation treatments that hand therapist deal with:

•          Soft tissue procedures

•          Range of motion activities

•          Joint movement

•          Electrical stimulation

•          Nerve desensitization

•          Iontophoresis

•          Occupational conditioning

•          Strength exercises

•          Scar management

•          Dexterity training

•          Pain management

•          Hot or cold packs

•          Taping

•          Custom orthotic creation

What type of injuries and illness is treated by hand therapy? 

The following common conditions are treated by hand therapy which aims to reduce pain and help patients to recover and improve average mobility and functionality: 

•          Cubital tunnel syndrome: This type of pain is found in the hand or arm which causes severe pain, weakness in the muscle, tingling, or numbness caused by a pinched nerve. 

•          Ganglion Cyst: The cause of this injury is unknown which is found in hand or wrist benign lump on the joints or tendons.

•           Tennis elbow: Tennis elbow is basically swelling on the outer elbow, forearm, or wrist pain, tenderness which is caused by a repetitive arm motion. 

•          Hand pain: It is the type of pain that is felt while moving fingers or turning the wrist.

•          Repetitive Motion Disorder: It’s caused by overuse or repetitive motion in any part of the upper extremity – joint stiffness, tingling, tenderness, or muscle. 

•          Trigger Finger: The main reason behind this injury is an inflamed tendon that makes the finger get stuck in a bent position. Popping, tenderness, clicking, stiffness in the finger. 

•          Golfer’s Elbow: This type of pain is found in the hand, fingers, wrist, or elbow which causes tingling, tenderness, or stiffness.

•          De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis: Wrist pain, swelling, and tenderness, pain, caused by repetitive motions. 

•          Dupuytren’s Contracture: The reason for this type of injury is tissue tightening and thickening in the hand. It bent finger or lump located in the palm. 

•          Sprains, Dislocations, and Fractures: The trauma to the body causes swelling, pain, or tenderness which is found in any part of the upper extremity. 

•          Burns and Wounds: When the is skin tissue is damaged then it causes blistering, pain, peeling, or redness in any part of the upper extremity.

•          Amputations: Removal of a limb or appendage caused by injury, illness, or disease are the main cause behind Amputations which is found in any part of the upper extremity.

•          Fine Motor Skill Deficiencies:  dyspraxia, strokes, and other disorders affect the hands and fingers which in turn causes coordination problems or muscle weakness.

•          Arthritis: Infections, diseases, normal wear, and tear are the main causes behind arthritis which in result sharpen pain, swelling, and decreased range of motion.   

What to expect during a treatment?

Your hand specialist will need to ensure that you are advancing each meeting towards your objectives. To do this, they will quantify your scope of movement, strength, stance, or nerve sensation during each visit – relying on your necessities. Your advisor will likewise examine practices that you can finish at home to add your restoration. These exercises will help your recovery advance faster than just treatment arrangements alone.

Hand treatment exists to decrease torment, not aggravate it. That being said, now and again working muscles will cause touchiness after treatment is finished. Extending may likewise be awkward, however, any delicacy normally disperses inside a day. Your hand specialist is there to ensure you are open to during your meeting; driving your body excessively far can deteriorate wounds.