Occupational Hand Therapy

Occupational Therapy for Hand Conditions

Occupational Therapy for Hands in Birmingham and Hoover, Serving Central Alabama

Southlake Orthopaedics specializes in hand occupational therapy. Compared with physical therapy, occupational hand therapy focuses on tasks that patients perform daily, often as part of their job. Hand occupational therapy seeks to improve basic motor functions so patients can experience less pain and more living.

Occupational therapists work alongside the entire team at Southlake Orthopaedics and are highly skilled in upper extremity and hand rehabilitation and related techniques. With offices in Birmingham-Grandview and Hoover, Southlake Orthopaedics serves patients throughout central Alabama.

Hand Conditions Requiring Occupational Therapy

Various injuries and conditions affect the hand and wrist, causing pain and limiting patients’ ability to use their hands and arms. Full use of the hands is necessary for most day-to-day tasks, from working on a computer and texting to writing and handling items. Receive occupational hand therapy for the following at Southlake Orthopaedics:

Fractures, Dislocations, and Amputations

Occupational hand therapy offers approaches for completing everyday tasks after a bone fracture or dislocations. Patients who have had a hand or arm amputated also need techniques for navigating life.

Sports Injuries

Hands and arms play an important role in sports, whether athletes use them to spike a ball or defend themselves against a hit. Even though athletes wear the appropriate gear, injuries may still occur that require occupational hand therapy.

Tennis Elbow and Other Types of Tendonitis

Patients can receive treatment for various types of tendonitis, such as tennis elbow. This condition occurs because of overuse, wearing down the tendons connecting the forearm muscles outside the elbow. Despite the name, tennis elbow affects anyone who might overuse this part of the arm, not just tennis players.

Carpal Tunnel and Other Nerve Entrapment Disorders

Nerve entrapment occurs when surrounding tissues compress a nerve, limiting its mobility and potentially causing pain. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common type affecting the median nerve in the wrist.

Trigger Finger

Individuals who use their fingers forcefully or have other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis might experience trigger finger. This condition causes the tendons in fingers and thumbs to lock when bending.

Arthritis

Wear and tear can cause arthritic joints to degenerate, causing arthritis in the hand or wrist. Arthritis can be painful and limit a patient’s ability to enjoy activities like they once did. The hands and wrists have multiple small joints, and arthritis can develop in any of these areas.

Dupuytren’s Contracture

Dupuytren’s contracture is a result of Dupuytren’s disease. This condition causes the palmar fascia in the hand to thicken and contract, often pulling the fingers inward toward the palm. Patients might be unable to straighten their fingers.

Orthopedic Occupational Therapy for Hand Conditions

There are many reasons patients might need occupational hand therapy. They might be recovering from surgery or an injury. They might need to regain function because of symptoms of a debilitating condition. Occupational hand therapy can help them achieve less pain and more living. Treatments at Southlake Orthopaedics may include:

Heat and Cold Therapies: Alternating between heat and cold therapy can help alleviate pain. Heat therapy helps increase blood flow to an area of the body, relieving pain and improving circulation. Cold therapy reduces blood flow, decreasing inflammation and quieting nerve activity to alleviate pain.
Ultrasounds: Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves to stimulate soft tissues. It helps increase blood flow to boost circulation and relieve pain.
Electric Stimulations: During electric stimulation, the occupational therapist attaches electrodes to the affected area, which sends electrical signals into the body.
Mobility Exercises: These exercises help increase the range of movement in the hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders.
Strengthening Exercises: These exercises build strength, coordination, and flexibility in the affected area.
Agility Exercises: Once a patient has improved mobility and strength, the occupational therapist may add exercises to enhance agility.

Why Choose Southlake Orthopaedics for Occupational Hand Therapy?

Southlake Orthopaedics features a team of Certified Hand Therapists (CHTs). To become a CHT, an occupational therapist must have 4,000 additional hours of clinical experience treating hand and wrist, and elbow injuries, as well as pass a national certification exam. Patients can trust the expertise of the occupational therapists at Southlake Orthopaedics.

These occupational therapists work closely with the other orthopedic and sports medicine physicians in the office to deliver a higher level of patient care throughout the rehabilitation process. Patients receive treatment plans and guidance tailored to their specific condition or injury. The team includes:

Outpatient Orthopedic Occupational Hand Therapy in Central Alabama

Trust the occupational therapists and other multi-level specialists at Southlake Orthopaedics for care. With locations in Hoover and Birmingham-Grandview, the team of board-certified physicians serves patients throughout central Alabama. Contact us today about an appointment.