Hand therapy is ideal for patients who have conditions affecting the hands and upper extremities. Whether it’s a work-related injury, a condition that has happened over time, chronic pain, or a result of trauma, hand therapy benefits many types of people.

When you receive hand therapy treatment at Premier Physical Therapy, you’re taken care of by one of our certified hand therapists who is passionate about providing the highest quality of hand therapy.

Our hand therapist uses a variety of techniques to promote healing and strengthening of your hands including manual hand therapy, soft tissue mobilization, specific hand exercises, custom splinting/orthotics, education and stretching. When combined, your hands are able to gain back the flexibility and strength needed to continue doing the things you love.

There are many reasons why you should try hand therapy today. Below are six of the most common ways it can help you if you’re struggling with pain or discomfort.

1. Prevent Further Injuries with Nonoperative Treatment

Undergoing surgery on your hands or upper extremities is a big deal that can come with risks and a strenuous recovery period. When you engage in hand therapy techniques, our certified hand therapists use exercises modalities to help you resolve injuries and treat current issues without having to go for surgery.

2. Pain Management

Whether the pain you’re experiencing in your hands is acute or chronic, hand therapy can help. By utilizing effective methods to reduce inflammation and stress to your hands, pain can be significantly reduced and you can return back to your normal lifestyle.

3. Pain, Stiffness and/or Weakness After Trauma

If you’ve been in an accident that left injury to your hand, wrist or elbow, hand therapy can help. It’s the best method for getting your hands back to normal after a serious trauma.

4. Home Exercise Programs

When you undergo therapy, your hand therapist will provide you with personalized home exercise programs. These programs are designed to increase the motion, dexterity, and strength in your hands so you can do it from the comfort of your home.

5. Getting Back to the Old You

Living life with chronic hand pain or immobility can be detrimental to both your personal life and your work. Our certified hand therapist works with you to regain the use of your hands so they can once again easily perform daily tasks and simple motions. Through adapted techniques and equipment, our hand therapist will help you get back your old self in no time.

Hand therapy has many benefits for a variety of hand injuries and pain. When you undergo treatments, you are putting your well-being in the forefront and taking control of your life.

Choose Premier for Your Hand Therapy

Start today with your hand therapy treatment and sign up for a free injury screening with Premier Physical Therapy.

The Art and Science of Healing Hands

Our hands aren’t very big, but they have a lot of complex components that require care and attention. Hand therapy offers our patients many benefits. Hand Therapists evaluate and treat injuries and conditions associated with our upper extremity (shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand).

A Certified Hand Therapist uses a wide range of techniques and exercises to help patients who suffer from injury, chronic hand pain or loss of sensation (feeling). With the right course of treatment, patients can restore lost muscle strength, get relief from pain, regain nerve function, help manage scars, or even eliminate the need for corrective surgery.

Candidates for hand therapy include people who suffer from conditions, such as Arthritis, Tennis Elbow, Carpal Tunnel (median nerve entrapment), tendonitis, or Cubital Tunnel (ulnar nerve entrapment). You are also a candidate for therapy if you have suffered a hand injury such as burns, fractures, damaged tendons & nerves, or amputations.

How Does Hand Therapy Work?

Hand therapy is commonly practiced in a few distinct ways. First, it can be used as a rehabilitation tool, assisting patients after a medical procedure, such as surgery or a traumatic injury. Hand therapy is also a great preventative care tool, correcting problems before surgery becomes necessary. Hand therapy can also help relieve the symptoms of chronic pain conditions, such as arthritis.

In all instances, a hand therapist uses a variety of techniques, including custom orthotic fabrications and targeted specific exercises. These techniques are designed to strengthen muscles, reduce swelling, protect joints and restore range of motion. Hand therapists also consult their patients on healthy habits and exercises they can do at home to further their care.

What Does it Take to Be a Hand Therapist?

A Certified Hand Therapists (CHT) must have at least three years of clinical experience, including 4,000 hours of direct practice in hand therapy. They must also pass a strict certification exam to prove their competency and receive continuing education yearly to keep their certification. Our therapist, Donna Hart Goodson OTR/L, CHT has had over 30 years of experience in providing Hand Therapy to people just like you!

Let Us Give You a Hand with Your Chronic Pain

Do you struggle with pain that you just can’t get to stop or maybe even chronic hand pain that is keeping you from enjoying life? Maybe you have experienced an occasional tingling or loss of feeling in your hand? If you do, we can help. We can assess your pain and get to the bottom of what’s causing it. And with the assistance of our highly trained CHT, we will help you restore function and get you to start feeling better. We look forward to helping you at our Cape Girardeau clinic. Keep in mind that we have three convenient locations across southeast Missouri (Cape Girardeau, Jackson, and Advance) to serve your Physical Therapy needs.

Allow Premier Physical Therapy to give you a hand. Get your FREE injury screening.