Hand Therapy
When hands are compromised by chronic pain, lack of mobility, or weakness, targeted hand therapy from Munger Physical Therapy in Fort Gratiot, Clinton Township, and Marysville, MI, helps ease discomfort and strengthen muscles and joints. This specialized form of rehabilitation focuses on improving mobility and function for anyone trying to manage an injury, stiffness, or loss of movement.
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Reasons People Need Hand Therapy
A hand injury can be its own complication, or hand problems can occur because of a fall or injury that impacts other parts of this extremity. Candidates for hand therapy include people with the following circumstances:
- Hand injury
- Arthritis
- Wrist, elbow, or shoulder injury
- Tissue tightness
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Neuropathy
- Chronic pain
- Hand surgery
- Neurological injury side effects
- Weakness from aging or injury
Benefits of Targeted Hand Therapy
Hand therapy has multiple benefits and is customized to address a patient’s injury, disability, or strain.
- Restore function. With the help of hand therapy, function can be restored, as well as dexterity and strength.
- Promote range of motion. Hand therapy techniques can improve the range of motion not only in a patient’s hand but also wrist, elbow, and shoulder.
- Strengthen muscles. Building strength is a hallmark of hand therapy techniques and regaining strength is critical to maintain hand function.
- Minimize pain. Pain and discomfort are associated with injury or strain to hands and upper extremities but hand therapy techniques can reduce the complications.
- Recover from surgery. Hand surgery is not the end of a problem, it’s only the beginning of true healing. Full recovery includes targeted hand therapy.
How Hand Therapy Works
Rest is important after any hand injury or surgery, but these extremities also need to get moving quickly to improve mobility and recover strength. Success is far more likely through customized hand therapy.
- More than hand therapy. Hand therapy extends beyond the hand itself. Wrist, elbow, and shoulder must be addressed too because all parts of the limb affect the functioning of the other parts.
- Multiple strategies. Physical therapy and occupational therapy are sometimes combined to improve movement and help patients gain confidence in mastering activities that were once manageable but have become challenging, from holding or opening a jar to playing a sport, typing to writing.
- Emotional support. A significant part of a physical therapist’s role is to support their patients not only physically but emotionally, explaining how they are improving and can overcome the fear that is often present with slow healing.
What to Expect from Hand Therapy
Every physical therapy patient is different and your hand therapy needs will be too depending on what challenges you’re dealing with, your age, previous injuries or problems, and other physical conditions. Here is what you can generally expect:
- Evaluation. We will assess your circumstances, range of motion, goals, and what it will take to meet your goals.
- Tailored program. All therapy starts gently and becomes more challenging, but each program is customized to the patient, whether that means in-person strength-building exercises or functional exercises like buttoning a shirt.
- At-home therapy. Some patients will be encouraged to complete exercises at home to continue therapy in between appointments. This can especially help with pain relief and swelling.
- Pain management. From adaptive equipment to topical medications to breathing exercises, there are many possibilities in hand therapy that help relieve pain.
Get Hand Therapy from Munger Physical Therapy in Michigan
Munger Physical Therapy’s licensed physical therapists and assistants offer ongoing treatment and preventive care to patients in three locations so you can always access the support you need to feel better and stronger. Our goal is to help you feel better, stronger, and more confident as you heal on your road to recovery. Contact us at one of our three offices to schedule an appointment.
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