Hand therapy is a specialty within occupational therapy that focuses on the rehabilitation of those with injuries and diagnoses related of the upper extremity. Parkview proudly staffs occupational therapists who are hand therapists who have the experience and skill to treat all things hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder.
Why would someone need hand therapy?
The muscles and structures that make up the hand are complex, and they allow us to interact with our environment daily. Damage to those structures can make everyday life difficult and require rehabilitation to return to prior function.
Examples of injuries that may require special care of a hand therapist include crush injuries occurring at work, cutting of tendons in the hand while cooking and falling on an outstretched arm resulting in a wrist or forearm fracture. A hand therapist can address many aspects of healing during therapy including:
- Limited range of motion
- Muscle tightness and imbalance
- Grip strength
- Fine motor coordination
- Nerve pain
- Skin sensitivity due to nerve damage
- Scar management
- Wound care
- Chronic pain
- Activity and work modification to prevent reinjury or return of pain
Parkview’s certified hand therapists treat these common diagnoses:
- Overuse injuries
- Thumb injuries
- Bicep tendon ruptures
- Lateral/medial epicondylitis
- De Quervain tenosynovitis
- Wrist fractures
- Flexor/extensor tendon injuries
- Finger PIP dislocationsTFCC (triangular fibrocartilage complex) injuries
- Osteoarthritis/rheumatoid arthritis
- Hand fractures
- Dupuytren’s disease
- Raynaud’s disease
- Radial head fractures
- Wounds, edema and scar management
- Total elbow arthroplasty
- Tissue tightness and adhesions
- Digital amputations
- Crush/soft tissue injuries
- Ligamentous injuries and instability
- Replantation and revascularization
- Humeral fractures
- Nerve injuries/palsies
- Complex shoulder injuries
Certified hand therapists are available at the following locations:
- Parkview Regional Medical Center
11143 Parkview Plaza Drive, Fort Wayne - Parkview Therapy Services
5050 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne - Parkview Southwest
10515 Illinois Road, Fort Wayne
