Hand therapy is the term relating to non surgical management of hand disorders and discomfort. Hand therapy/ physio focuses on physical methods such as massages, exercises and acupuncture, with the aim to lessen pain. A hand physio typically treats any disorders in the upper body which may affect movement and hand function. This type of therapist is a specialist who has undertaken advanced training in the rehabilitation of this area of the body.
Your therapist will be able to support you emotionally and physically throughout your sessions; they may give you advice on how to handle certain activities, while working towards your rehabilitation goals with you.
Why might you visit a hand physio?
Whether it’s due to a past injury, post-surgery or a recent change in the function of your hands, our on-site specialist in Folkestone is available to assess you, and based on your diagnosis we may want to see you for regular appointments to build on your progress.
Below are a few common examples where you might want to book an appointment with a hands physio:-
Post surgery: after surgery on the hand and/or wrist, you may feel stiff and movement might be jarred. Your physio would aim to alleviate the pain and improve range of motion through exercises.
Osteoarthritis: while this can affect any part of the body, wrists and hands are common areas to experience osteoarthritis symptoms. While this is dependant on your condition and other personal factors, your physio may recommend strengthening exercises to support the joints, and stretching exercises to improve movement.
Repetitive strain injury: if you’re working in a job that requires repetitive movement, such as hairdressing or decorating, or you play golf and/ or tennis, you may have experienced RSI. You may feel cramps, stiffness and tingling in the hands and arm. Assessing and improving your hand mobility, and looking at other elements that may contribute to RSI, such as posture, may improve your symptoms.
All our therapists can assess wrists and hands, however, our hand specialist is a physiotherapist who specialises in hands, wrists and arm pain. If you are experiencing any specific symptoms in this area, feel free to give us a call for advice, information and possible treatment.
