Kernan Hospital
Special Programs
Hand Therapy
What is Hand Therapy?
Hand therapy specializes in shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand inuries. Hand therapy
is provided by an occupational or physical therapist.
Common conditions benefitting from hand therapy include:
- Arthritis - rheumatoid and osteoarthritis
- Cumulative trauma disorders - CTS, tendonitis (ex. tennis elbow), other
nerve entrapments
- Tendon and Nerve injuries
- Fractures
- Burns
- Skin grafts/flaps
- Amputations (Prosthetic training)
- Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
- Joint replacements
- Congenital Deformities
- Soft Tissue injuries/Sprains/Strains
- Wounds/Infections
Hand Therapists
Hand therapists administer various evaluations to determine each patient's
deficits and a plan of treatment is established. Some of the most common evaluations
performed by a hand therapist include:
- Goniometry - the measurement of joint range of motion
- Strength testing - grip, pinch and manual muscle testing
- Edema assessment - the measurement of swelling in the limb
- Wound assessment
- Sensory testing - Determines deficits in nerve function
- Coordination/Fine motor skills assessment
- Prevocational assessment/ Functional Capacity Evaluations - measures preparedness
for return to work
- Splinting/bracing needs assessment
- Activities of daily living assessment
- Adaptive Equipment assessment
For more information about our hand therapy services, or to make an appointment, please call 1-888-4KERNAN (453-7626).
This page was last updated on: December 28, 2007.
