What is Hand Therapy?
Hand Therapy is the practice of evaluating and treating problems of the upper extremity (elbow, wrist, and hand). The occupational and physical therapists at Armworks Hand Therapy will guide, coach, and educate you through the process of healing from your elbow, wrist, or hand injury. Armworks Hand Therapy provides treatment techniques to reduce pain, improve motion, restore strength, and increase function.
Hand Therapy at Armworks
Armworks Hand Therapy works exclusively with issues related to the elbows, wrists, and hands. Functional, comfortable use of your upper extremity is vital to performing everyday activities. When these areas are injured or painful, it greatly impacts your ability to perform necessary tasks needed for daily life. Armworks Hand Therapists receive specialized education and extensive training to focus solely on upper extremity rehabilitation. This allows Armworks to provide the highest quality, trusted, and effective elbow, wrist, and hand therapy available.
Conditions Treated with Hand Therapy
Armworks Hand Therapists treat a wide variety of injuries and issues that affect the elbow, wrist, and hand. These concerns may be related to acute/traumatic accidents, be caused by repetitive use, wear and tear, or other health conditions. Our hand therapists regularly treat patients for these elbow, wrist, and hand concerns:
- Lateral epicondylitis (Tennis elbow)
- Elbow, wrist, and hand fractures
- Post-operative tendon repairs
- Osteoarthritis
- Joint hypermobility/Ehlers Danlos Syndrome
- Forearm strain, wrist tendonitis, TFCC injuries
- Finger and wrist sprains
Benefits of Hand Therapy
Treating your elbow, wrist or hand injury at Armworks Hand Therapy is beneficial, because you are receiving care from therapists who work exclusively with your injury or condition. Armworks Hand Therapy offers:
- Collaboration with hand surgeons
- Elbow, wrist, or hand splint making
- Education to return to work or sport
- Education for injury prevention
- Therapeutic treatment plans designed to meet your rehabilitation goals
- Specialized therapy performed by providers with extensive education and training on your specific injury/concern
- Home exercise programs
What to Expect in Hand Therapy
Armworks Hand Therapy sees each patient as an individual with unique needs. Listening to your areas of concern, your hand therapist will also discuss your goals, activity level, and general health. At your first appointment, they will perform a professional evaluation and create a customized treatment plan to best meet your needs. Your rehabilitation at Armworks will include:
- Professional evaluation of muscle, joint, and neuromuscular systems
- Development of progressive treatment that meets the patient’s individual needs
- One-on-one appointments with certified hand therapists
- Application of modalities and manual techniques for injury recovery and patient comfort
- Appropriate patient education forcontinued success
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why should I go to hand therapy?
Hand therapists are specialists in rehabilitation of the elbow, wrist, and hand. Hand therapists have the unique ability to restore the functional use of your elbow, wrist, and hand by focusing first on calming your symptoms and then restoring movement of tissue before strengthening it. The hand is complex and can respond poorly to aggressive or painful treatment. Hand therapists are able to evaluate the needs you may have for a splint, which helps accomplish these healing goals too.
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How long will hand therapy typically last?
Hand Therapy often begins care with seeing a patient two times a week. The typical length of hand therapy is 6-8 weeks. Your first appointment will include a thorough, professional evaluation with a hand therapist who will develop and discuss your unique treatment plan. They will recommend the number of visits you will need and how often it is appropriate for you to come in. In some cases, your therapist may suggest adjusting your timeline as you show improvements in your recovery.
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When can I return to work after beginning hand therapy?
Often in hand therapy, you can continue working, at least in some capacity. If you need to have surgery for your injury then your time away from work will be longer. Your attending workers compensation provider is ultimately responsible for deciding the exact timing on when and at what capacity you can return to work.
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When can I return to sports after beginning hand therapy?
The two important things to consider are what type of injury occurred and what sport you are wanting to return to. Racquet sports like tennis or pickleball might take 4 weeks of recovery before playing, where a higher impact sport like baseball or football would be around 6 weeks.
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Does Armworks take my insurance?
Here is a list of the insurance plans accepted by SportsCare Physical Therapy and Armworks Hand Therapy. If you are unsure of your coverage or if your plan is accepted, please contact one of our offices. We are happy to assist you in learning about your benefits.
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Where is Armworks located?
Armworks Hand Therapy has offices in Gresham, NE Portland, Clackamas, Beaverton, and Tigard. For location specific contact information click here.