Sunset Hills, MO Hand Therapy
Sunset Hills, 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 work in coordination to allow the fine motor control needed to button a shirt, hold a pen, or type an email. When your medical condition or injury affects the use of your hand, wrist, forearm, or elbow, turn to the skilled care provided by a Sunset Hills, 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, with the objectives of protection and possible splinting, pain reduction, 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 learn more about our hand therapy program or to schedule your first appointment.
What is Hand Therapy?
Hand therapy is specialized type 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.
In hand therapy, the complex principles of anatomy, physiology, and joint kinesiology converge as they relate to upper extremity function. Experienced hand therapists apply their extensive knowledge and understanding of how the human hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, arm and shoulder work together so that their patients can perform activities of daily living, go to work, or play sports. Hand therapists stay up to date 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 Sunset Hills, 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 must go through advanced education and have clinical experience caring for the vast variety of conditions affecting the upper extremity such as traumatic injuries, chronic disease, musculoskeletal injuries, neurological conditions, and deformities.
Some physical and occupational therapists pursue and obtain advanced certification in hand therapy practices. Those who meet critera are licensed as Certified Hand Therapists – also known as a CHT. There is a rigorous qualification process that one must complete in order to qualify as a CHT. 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 requalify every five years to retain their certification.
Axes Physical Therapy is staffed by a team of the Sunset Hills, MO area’s top physical therapists and occupational therapists, 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 each of their patients. We ensure that each patient is paired with the individual 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 Sunset Hills, 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 Sunset Hills, 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.
If you aren’t sure yet if you’d like to try Sunset Hills, MO hand therapy, consider what this treatment option can do for you. Hand therapy offers:
- Treatment without 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
Sunset Hills, 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. Together with your CHT, you will focus on objecvtives like improving strength, reducing stiffness, managing pain, practicing movement, or preventing further medical complications like infection and improper healing.
Your Sunset Hills, MO hand therapist will employ 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 simple isolated fingertip injuries, complex chronic conditions, and everyone in between all count on Sunset Hills, 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 – such as performing work duties like typing and lifting and personal functions like holding a baby.
There are a wide variety of treatment methods that may be employed in hand therapy treatment. In order to receive the best results, it’s important that you actively participate in your Sunset Hills, MO hand therapy. Your hand therapist will carefuly discuss with you and consult with your medical providers to determine which treatments are most appropriate 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:
Hand Therapy Treatment Near Sunset Hills, MO | Axes Physical Therapy
You have a hand, wrist, arm, or shoulder injury or condition that makes getting around day-to-day difficult on your own. 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 can be challenging. Put your recovery in the hands of the leading Sunset Hills, 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 Sunset Hills, MO area. Contact us or request an appointment online today.
