What treatments do hand therapists provide?

The goal of hand therapy is to try to get somebody back to his or her normal function. So we work with them to increase their mobility, reduce their pain, reduce their swelling, to allow them back to their normal function, whether it be bathing, dressing, taking care of a loved one, or returning to work. Hand therapists provide control for swelling, control for pain, wound care. We splint structures for stabilization after a fracture, or if someone has tendonitis, we often will make a splint or an orthosis to try and rest that extremity or that finger so it can recover and reduce the inflammation.