Hand Rehabilitation
Hand Rehabilitation is actually a type of therapy for the people suffering from a condition that is affecting their hands and upper extremities. It is usually performed by an Occupational Therapist. Hand rehabilitation helps the people to regain their normal lifestyle and even helps them to make it a productive one.
Hand therapy can help people who have been affected by any trauma or accident, or if they have injured tendons or nerves, or even amputations of the fingers, arms or hands.
Hand rehabilitation helps you to recover from severe conditions that ultimately lead to an improved life.
Hand Rehabilitation Can Help With
Hand rehabilitation can actually work wonders and can help you to bring your daily normal lifestyle back. Hand Therapy can be beneficial for:
- Any kind of hand trauma
- Any ligament or tendon tear/repair
- Infections related to hands
- Any sports injury
- Condition of dislocation or fracture
- Stroke*
- Condition arising out of any neurological disorder
- Experiencing stiffness
- Sensitivity issue
- Post surgery condition
- Reduction in swelling
- Management of scars
- Healing of wounds
- Situation arising from diabetes
- Psychological disorder
Orthopedic Deficits
Our Occupational Therapy team is skilled in interventions related to overcoming functional deficits due to musculoskeletal injuries, spinal cord injury, amputations, fractures and/or soft tissue injuries. Occupational Therapists work with patients from all age groups and conditions to find a treatment plan that works for them.
At your initial Occupational Therapy visit, your therapist will perform a comprehensive evaluation to learn more about the areas you struggle with and what your goals are. Our team will implement assistive device prescription, training, and compensatory training to help you achieve your goals. Occupational therapists have specialized training in assisting our patients in finding alternative pathways to restoring normal daily functioning.
Our Occupational Therapist at Central Physiotherapy & Massage, is proud to have Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) authorization. She can can assist patients with wheelchair/mobility device applications for public funding.
Occupational therapists often deal with the following orthopedic issues:
- Any injuries related to work also including lower back problems
- Injuries related to Spinal cord
- Developed a fractures or any other injuries arisen from sports or accidents
- Arthritis
- Body limitations that have followed because of a stroke or heart attack
- Injured nerves
- Amputations
- Post surgical condition or operative conditions
Functional Assessments
An occupational therapist's primary role is to conduct a Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) or a Functional Abilities Evaluation (FAE) to determine the physical, mental, and medical limitations of an individual's injuries and disabilities.
What is a Functional Assessment?
An Occupational Therapy (OT) Functional Assessment is all about helping you achieve your goals. The assessment works to determine your current level of functioning, what your strengths and weaknesses may be, how you manage on a day-to-day basis and to identify any challenges or gaps that may need to be addressed.
It can provide recommendations of the supports and services you may need, not only with an OT but also in other areas like speech language pathology, physiotherapy or psychology.
Following the functional assessment, your Occupational Therapist (OT) can make recommendations to increase your independence through therapy goals like developing or enhancing skills, assistive technology or environmental changes, and working towards goals including social and community participation.
During a functional assessment the OT will explore your
- Management of daily tasks (showering, dressing, toileting, personal hygiene, sleep, nutrition etc.) and if there are any challenges that may be impacting your ability to complete these tasks
- Home management skills (meal preparation, shopping, cleaning, laundry, household budgets and bills etc.) and any challenges within your current living situation and supports
- Community management abilities (accessing shops, banks, attending medical or health related appointments etc.) and how you manage this with driving, public transport or supported transport access
- Work and study abilities and whether there are any challenges you experience or short- or long-term goals you would like to set
- Recreational and social engagement skills (exercise, craft, art, music etc.) and how your ability to engage may be impacted, as well as whether you want to engage and your confidence in engaging socially in the community
When the assessment process is completed, you OT will finalise the Functional Assessment report with a summary of your current functional abilities and recommendations for ongoing support, therapy or assistive devices that may increase your independence and help you to achieve your goals.
Splinting
An Occupational Therapist's primary goal is to increase a patient’s capacity to engage in everyday activities they need or want to do. Sometimes, customized devices and materials (such as splints) are used to gently shape and guide a patient’s extremities to assist with engaging in these everyday activities.
What is splinting?
Splinting is the use of thermoplastic material (starts hard, gets soft in warm water for custom molding, and then hardens again as it cools) to hold a person’s arm, hand, or finger in a specific position.
Occupational Therapists are trained to design and create custom splints to address a wide spectrum of joint disorders. Splinting material comes in different thicknesses, colors, and either smooth or perforated for better air flow. Velcro and straps are often used to secure the thermoplastic mold around the joint(s) and allow the patient to adjust the fit for comfort.
There are generally two types of splints customized at Central Physiotherapy & Massage that allow for specific degrees of movement to the targeted joint:
- Static splinting immobilizes a joint/joints so that healing can occur in the bones or tissues with little-to-no movement.
- A static progressive splint applies a low-load prolonged stretch at the end of the available movement. It uses non-elastic components to place tension on the joint/tissue with the goal of improving passive motion.
In addition to custom splinting, occupational therapists use neoprene splints (elastic material) for joint support when the motion of the joint is not in need of being restricted, but the joint needs gentle support.
What does the splinting process entail?
The process of creating a splint includes a hot water bath, heat gun, plastic molding material, neoprene straps, Velcro, and Coban wound wrap.
When patients are getting fitted for a splint, they sit at a table across from their occupational therapist, who traces their hand on a paper towel (think Thanksgiving hand turkey craft project)! This cutout is then transferred to a sheet of thermoplastic material to shape the custom splint.
Who is a good candidate for a splint?
Some of the more common conditions that use splints as part of the rehabilitation process include carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tendonitis of the fingers or wrist, stroke, multiple sclerosis, bone fractures, and burns.
Patients are commonly referred to an occupational therapist by a surgeon or primary care physician and prescribed a specific type of splint; these splints follow a specific ‘Rehabilitation Protocol.’ Splinting protocols direct the frequency, duration, and progression of splint use which can vary between constant (24 hours), nighttime, intermittently during the day, or for task-specific performance.
These protocols help guide the occupational therapist and patient through safe, research-based outcome measures for rehabilitation. Protocols are designed to allow the maximum amount of movement that is considered safe for the injured body part, based on the patient’s specific diagnosis and/or surgical procedure(s).
Book An Appointment Today
We focus on function for meaningful results!!
Our strength is in helping people get back to the things they need to do, and back to themselves. We identify the real barriers to recovery (physical, psychological, environmental, and social factors) to a create a meaningful pathway forward.
Book an appointment at Central Physiotherapy & Massage!
We’ll be delighted to meet with you and develop a treatment plan for your path toward healing and pain relief. We will assist you in getting started on the path to long-term pain relief.
We offer direct billing so that you can focus on what matters the most - Your Recovery!
Your Next Step
- Book An Appointment
- Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
- Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
- Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free!