St. Louis, MO

St. Louis, MO

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

St. Louis, MO Hand Therapy

St. Louis, MO Hand Therapy. As humans we rely heavily on the use of our hands and arms to accomplish many of the tasks we encounter in our daily lives. Our hands are exceptionally complex, a design of different types of joints, bones, and an intricate system of blood vessels, nerves, tendons, and muscles, all of which must work in concert to make fine motor control possible to to button a shirt, hold a coffee cup, or answer the phone. When your medical condition or injury affects any part of your hand, wrist, forearm, or elbow, turn to the skilled care provided by a St. Louis, MO hand therapist.

Skilled hand therapy can be the difference between a successful recovery and return to normal activities versus suffering from lasting complications, 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 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 acute and chronic conditions of the fingers, hands, wrists, arms, and elbows. 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 stay up to date on clinically researched best practices and medically proven approaches to managing upper extremity injuries. They apply scientific evidence and work closely with the best orthopedic and plastic hand surgeons in the St. Louis, 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 complete advanced education and have clinical experience caring for the 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. These professionals hold the title of a Certified Hand Therapist – 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 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 St. Louis, MO area, including several accomplished Certified Hand Therapists. Our talented 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 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

Axes Physical Therapy St. Louis, 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 St. Louis, 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 St. Louis, MO hand therapy, consider what this treatment option can do for you. 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

St. Louis, 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 St. Louis, 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 of all kinds, from those with simple isolated fingertip injuries, complex chronic conditions, and everyone in between all count on St. Louis, 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.

Hand therapy programs can include a host of different treatment methods. You see the most optimal results when you actively participate in your St. Louis, MO hand therapy. Your hand therapist will carefuly discuss with you and consult with 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:

Hand Therapy Treatment Near St. Louis, 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 if often a challenge. Put your recovery in the hands of the leading St. Louis, 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 St. Louis, 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
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Work Conditioning/Hardening
  • Functional Capacity Evaluations
  • Vestibular Therapy and Post-Concussion Rehabilitation
  • Sports Physical Therapy
  • dorsaVi Video Motion Analysis
  • Trigger Point Dry Needling
  • Pediatric Orthopedic Physical Therapy
  • Geriatric Orthopedic Physical Therapy
  • Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTYM)
  • Spine Specialty – Manual Therapy Certified
  • Free Injury Screenings
  • Kinesio Taping®
  • Blood Flow Restriction Therapy

Our Team

Zac Schniers
PT, DPT, CMPT
Ashley Kraus
Front Office
Carly Donahue
PT, DPT, CMPT

Locations

Begin Your Recovery Today

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