Shoulder to Hand Therapy

Overview

Injury to your upper extremity can have a major impact on your ability to care for yourself and can affect your overall quality of life. Outpatient occupational Therapists will help you regain the use of your hands and arms which will allow for an increase in your overall safety and functional independence.

What To Expect

To restore function in your injured hand or arm, you’ll work with an outpatient occupational therapist to create a customized treatment plan. You’ll begin with therapeutic exercises to improve your strength and movement. You’ll also learn simple steps to avoid further injury and ways to adapt your home and work/school environment to make recovery easier.

Preparing For Hand Therapy

You’ll be scheduled for an appointment with a qualified Outpatient Occupational Therapist. During the appointment, you’ll have a physical exam to test your range of motion, grip and pinch, and overall arm strength. Your therapist will talk to you about your daily activities and any requirements you might have for home, work or school. Together, you’ll set practical goals that will help you get back to functioning normally.

It depends on your specific condition, but treatment may include:

• Activities of daily living (ADL)
• Strength exercises
• Activities to improve fine motor skills
• Splinting for positioning, protection or increasing movement
• Adaptations to help reduce pain
• Adaptive equipment
• Modalities to hypersensitivity, scarring or pain
• Home exercise for continued progression

Questions to Ask Your Provider About Hand Therapy

• What movements do I need to avoid while I recover?
• What exercises can I do at home?
• Will this impact my work?
• How long can I expect treatment to last?
• Do I need a splint or other device to prevent pain?
• What can I do to prevent re-injury?
• How do I safely complete my daily tasks with my current injury?