Wickes, MO

Wickes, MO

Hand therapy by a Certified Hand Therapist will restore the use of your hand, wrist, arm, elbow, or shoulder.

Wickes, MO Hand Therapy

Wickes, MO Hand Therapy. As humans the tasks and actions we come across in daily life require heavy use of our hands and arms. This part of our body is exceptionally complex, a design of different types of joints, bones, and an intricate system of blood vessels, nerves, tendons, and muscles, which are all required to work in coordination to allow the fine motor control needed to button a shirt, hold a pen, or answer the phone. When your medical condition or injury affects the use of your hand, wrist, forearm, or elbow, you need the skilled care provided by a Wickes, MO hand therapist.

Skilled hand therapy can be the difference between a return to functional independence and a lifetime of pain and limitations. A well-designed hand therapy program will be individualized to your specific injury. 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, making it possible for you 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 a medical sub-specialty under the general field of occupational or physical therapy. Hand therapists treat 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 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 utilize scientific evidence and work closely with the best orthopedic and plastic hand surgeons in the Wickes, 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 treating the wide variety of conditions including traumas, chronic diseases, muscoskeletal injuries, neurological conditions, and deformities that affect the upper extremity.

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. 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 requalify every five years to retain their certification.

Axes Physical Therapy is staffed by some of the most talented physical therapists and occupational therapists in the Wickes, 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 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

Axes Physical Therapy Wickes, MO treatment for your hand, wrist, or elbow complaint will be delivered with the expert care of a Certified Hand Therapist. In addition to the highly technical evaluation and treatment of your upper extremity injury, you will also benefit from the comprehensive approach all our patients receive. 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 we prioritize your personal experience in your recovery. Your Wickes, 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 Wickes, MO hand therapy, consider the benefits of this treatment option. 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

Wickes, 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. Depending on the nature of your injury or condition, the affected areas, and what kind of activities you wish to return to, your hand therapist will conceive of a treatment plan that works for you. Focus may be given to improving strength, reducing stiffness, managing pain, practicing movement, or preventing further medical complications like infection and improper healing.

Your Wickes, MO hand therapist will employ non-operative interventions, preventative care, and rehabilitation strategies to guide you back to the upper extremity function that is important in your daily life. Patients of all kinds, from those with simple isolated fingertip injuries, complex chronic conditions, and everyone in between all count on Wickes, MO hand therapy to remaster the everyday motions and functions they need and want to do – such as unlocking and opening doors – as well as the occupational tasks specific to their unique lives – which could include 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. You see the most optimal results when you take an active role in your Wickes, MO hand therapy. Your hand therapist will work closely with you and 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 Wickes, 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. Hand therapy from a Certified Hand Therapist at Axes Physical 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 leading Wickes, 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 Wickes, MO area. Contact us or request an appointment online today.

Services Offered

Services Offered
  • Physical Therapy
    • Pre/Post Surgical Rehabilitation
    • Acute Injury Management
    • Chronic Injury Management
  • Work Conditioning/Hardening
  • Functional Capacity Evaluations
  • Sports Physical Therapy
  • Pediatric Orthopedic Physical Therapy
  • Geriatric Physical Therapy
  • Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
  • Spine Specialty – Certified Manual Therapy
  • Free Injury Screenings
  • Kinesio Taping®
  • Blood Flow Restriction Therapy

Our Team

Stephen Brunjes
OTR/L, CEAS
Greg Nicholas
Clinic Director, MPT, CMPT
Jamie Davis
Front Office
Grace Gualtieri
Physical Therapist

Locations

Begin Your Recovery Today

Injuries and pain shouldn’t keep you from moving and doing the things you love.