Hand Physical and Occupational Therapy

Your hands are essential to nearly everything you do — working, caring for others, driving, cooking, exercising, and enjoying hobbies. Pain, stiffness, numbness, or weakness can affect your hands or arms and sometimes make even simple tasks frustrating and limiting.

At ACCESS PT, Hand Therapy is a specialized service provided by licensed Physical and Occupational Therapists with advanced training in upper extremity rehabilitation. Our goal is to help restore function, reduce pain, and regain confidence in how you use your hands and arms.

What Is Hand Therapy?

Hand Therapy focuses on conditions affecting the:

• Fingers and thumb
• Hand
• Wrist
• Forearm
• Elbow

The upper extremity is complex, involving intricate joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and muscles that must work together with precision. Our therapists have specialized knowledge of this anatomy and biomechanics, allowing for highly targeted and effective treatment.

Hand Therapy may benefit individuals experiencing:

• Pain or stiffness in the hand, wrist, or forearm
• Decreased grip strength or fine motor control
• Recovery after hand, wrist, or elbow surgery
• Tendon, ligament, or muscle injuries
• Nerve compression (such as carpal tunnel syndrome)
• Arthritis-related swelling and joint pain
• Repetitive strain or work-related injuries
• Fractures or traumatic injuries

The goal is to restore comfortable, functional movement, so daily tasks feel manageable and natural again.

Your Comprehensive Evaluation

Your first visit begins with a thorough evaluation by an ACCESS PT licensed Physical or Occupational Therapist.

We discuss:

• Your symptoms and medical history
• Work or daily activity demands
• Hobbies and recreational goals
• Functional limitations

The physical assessment includes:

• Range of motion testing
• Strength evaluation
• Grip and pinch assessment
• Swelling measurement
• Joint alignment and stability
• Coordination and dexterity testing

This detailed evaluation helps us understand how your hand and arm function together and guides your personalized plan of care.

Your Personalized Treatment Approach

Based on your evaluation, your Physical or Occupational Therapist develops an individualized, goal-driven treatment plan.

Treatment may include:

• Therapeutic Exercise: Improving strength, flexibility, endurance, and fine motor control.
• Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques to reduce joint stiffness, improve mobility, and address scar tissue.
• Swelling & Pain Management: Techniques to reduce inflammation and improve comfort.
• Functional Training: Practicing real-life tasks such as gripping, lifting, typing, tool use, or fine motor activities.
• Education: Guidance on joint protection, ergonomic adjustments, and activity modification.
• Custom Splinting or Orthotics: When appropriate, supportive devices may be fabricated or recommended to protect healing tissues and optimize function.

Rather than treating symptoms alone, therapy focuses on restoring coordinated movement across the entire upper extremity.

What to Expect in Therapy

Therapy sessions are interactive and hands-on. Your therapist will explain findings, set meaningful goals with you, and adjust treatment based on your progress and comfort.

You will also receive a customized home exercise program to reinforce gains between visits and support long-term recovery.

Many individuals notice improvements in pain, strength, and functional use within several weeks, though recovery timelines vary depending on the condition and healing process.

Who Can Benefit

Hand Therapy is appropriate for individuals of all ages, including those:

• Recovering from surgery
• Managing arthritis
• Experiencing nerve-related symptoms
• Healing from fractures or tendon injuries
• Returning to work after upper extremity injury
• Dealing with repetitive-use or overuse conditions

Restore Strength and Confidence

Your hands are essential to independence and quality of life. At ACCESS PT, our Hand Therapy services provide focused, compassionate, and specialized care.

Through expert evaluation, targeted treatment, and individualized support, we help patients regain strength, mobility, and confidence — so you can return to the activities that matter most.

Schedule your evaluation today.