Cottleville, MO Hand Therapy

Cottleville, MO Hand Therapy. As humans the tasks and actions we come across in daily life require heavy use of our hands and arms. Our hands are exceptionally complex, made up of different types of joints, bones, and an intricate system of blood vessels, nerves, tendons, and muscles, all of which must move in concert to make fine motor control possible to to button a shirt, hold a pen, or type an email. When you have a condition or injury that affects the use of your hand, wrist, forearm, or elbow, you need the skilled care provided by a Cottleville, MO hand therapist.

Skilled hand therapy can be the difference between a return to functional independence and a lifetime of pain and limitations. Your specific injury will determine the design of your personal hand therapy program. Goals for recovery will include protection and possible splinting, pain management, graded movement restoration, strengthening, and improvement of fine motor skills along with other hand, wrist, arm, and shoulder functions. With the right program, you will once again be able to live, work, and play without pain.Axes Physical Therapy delivers quality hand therapy near you. Contact us today to get more information about our hand therapy program or to schedule your first appointment.

What is Hand Therapy?

Hand therapy is a medical sub-specialty under the general field of occupational or physical therapy. Hand therapists address issues affecting the arms, elbows, forearms, hands, wrists, and fingers both acute and chronic. Hand therapy is used to improve your upper extremity comfort and function where needed.

Anatomy, physiology, and joint kinesiology principles are combined in hand therapy to understand and treat. Experienced hand therapists have a deep wealth of knowledge regarding the way the human hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, and shoulder are built and work together. This knowledge is put to use to help their patients perform activities of daily living, go to work, or play sports. Hand therapists undergo continuous education on clinically researched best practices and medically proven approaches to managing upper extremity injuries. They apply scientific evidence and collaborate with the leading orthopedic and plastic hand surgeons in the Cottleville, MO. The exact treatment is always dependent upon the patient, their condition, and their goals.

Hand Therapists

A physical therapist or occupational therapist who has specifically trained in treating the hand, wrist, arm, elbow, and shoulder is a hand therapist. They are required to go through advanced education and have clinical experience caring for a wide variety of conditions affecting the upper extremity such as traumatic injuries, chronic disease, musculoskeletal injuries, neurological conditions, and deformities.

Physical and occupational therapists must complete an exacting certification process to obtain a special hand therapy license. Those who meet critera are licensed as Certified Hand Therapists – also known as a CHT. The CHT certification process is rigorous. That process includes three years of professional practice including 4,000 hours of upper extremity treatment and an intensive certification exam. In addition, hand therapists must qualify again every five years to maintain their certification.

Axes Physical Therapy is staffed by some of the most talented physical therapists and occupational therapists in the Cottleville, MO area, many of whom are accomplished Certified Hand Therapists. Our dedicated CHT’s work continuously to meet the rigorous demands required to maintain their certification and bring the best hand therapy to all of Axes’ patients. We match each patient with the treatment provider who is best equipped to meet his or her hand therapy needs.

Hand Therapy Applications

Hand therapy treats upper extremity complains such as:

• Chronic conditions (i.e. osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
• Acute and chronic pain
• Swelling
• Joint injuries
• Fractures
• strains and sprains
• Joint dislocation
• Burns
• Tendon lacerations
• Post-surgical management and rehabilitation
• Tendonitis and tendonosis
• Compression syndromes (i.e. carpal tunnel)
• Nerve and neurological conditions
• Infections
• Amputations and limb and digit reattachments

When you come to Axes Physical Therapy for specialized treatment of your hand, wrist, or elbow in Cottleville, MO, you will receive the expert care of a Certified Hand Therapist. In addition to the highly technical evaluation and treatment of your upper extremity injury, every Axes patient is treated with a comprehensive and personalized approach. We treat each patient entirely – from the source of your discomfort to the activities your condition has affected – with a focus on helping you return to the activities you love the most. Our client-centered approach means that your experience and recovery matter most to us. Your Cottleville, MO hand therapy specialist will formulate an intricate treatment plan based on your history, medical and surgical procedures (if any), and your goals for recovery.

When you are trying to determine whether Cottleville, MO hand therapy is for you, consider the benefits of this treatment option. Hand therapy offers:

• A treatment solution that doesn’t require surgery
• Improved upper extremity function
• Management of acute and chronic pain
• Reduced sensitivity to nerve-related problems
• Recovery from tendon and nerve injuries
• Improved movement and strength
• Reduced stiffness
• New, modified ways to execute everyday activities
• Preparation to return to work

Cottleville, MO Hand Therapy Treatment

Hand therapy treatment is unique to each injury and patient. Your hand therapy treatment team will apply their skill and expertise in upper extremity anatomy and function combined with an in-depth understanding of your personal goals and priorities. Your personal treatment plan will be based on the cause and severity of your condition, the body parts that are affected, and your occupational and functional goals. Focus may be given to improving strength, reducing stiffness, managing pain, practicing movement, or preventing further medical complications like infection and improper healing.

Your Cottleville, MO hand therapist will make use of non-operative interventions, preventative care, and rehabilitation strategies to guide you back to the upper extremity function you find necessary in your daily life. Patients with minor isolated fingertip injuries, complex neurological conditions, and everyone in between all count on Cottleville, MO hand therapy to get back to the everyday tasks life demands – such as unlocking and opening doors – on top of the occupational tasks specific to their unique lives – which could include work duties like typing and lifting and personal functions like holding a baby.

Hand therapy programs can include a host of different treatment methods. In order to receive the best results, it’s important that you take an active role in your Cottleville, MO hand therapy. Your hand therapist will work closely with you and your medical providers to determine which treatments make the most sense and best meet your needs.

Hand therapy may include:

• Home exercises
• Education
• Functional activities
• Exercise
• Manual interventions
• Relearning muscle or neural movements
• Work simulations
• Laceration care
• Dexterity training
• Custom splinting
• Wound and scar care

Other care and treatment provided by Axes Physical Therapy are things such as:

• Shin Splint Treatment
• Direct Access Physical Therapy
• Gait Analysis
• Pelvic Floor Therapy
• Dry Needling Near Me
• Tendonitis Treatment
• Manual Physical Therapy
• Orthopedic Rehab Near Me
• Beginner Running Program
• Chronic Pain Treatment

Hand Therapy Treatment Near Cottleville, MO | Axes Physical Therapy

You have a hand, wrist, arm, or shoulder injury or condition that makes it difficult to function in your daily life. Through our Certified Hand Therapists, Axes Physical Therapy’s hand therapy provides the expert care and treatment that will restore the movement, flexibility, and strength necessary to accomplish the tasks you come across every day.

Finger, hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, arm, and shoulder conditions and injuries are often complex, and recovery if often a challenge. Put your recovery in the hands of the top Cottleville, MO hand therapists by scheduling an appointment with Axes Physical Therapy today. Our several locations that offer hand therapy are locally owned and operated, with this one conveniently located in the Cottleville, MO area. Contact us or request an appointment online today.