Injury can occur for various reasons, whether it's repetitive motion, poor sleeping posture, or overexertion. In multiple instances, it might also happen because of accidents. If your injury affects your hand functions, you might face severe issues performing your daily errands.
Not to forget, your hands are the most significant part of your body. Your hands comprise tiny bones, tendons, and ligaments. So, pain in your wrists and hands may result in excessive pain and poor functionalities. That's where the role of a hand occupational therapist comes into being. Now, what exactly is hand occupational treatment? Let's check it out from the given pointYUK;UK;K;K.
A Few Words on Hand Occupational Treatment
Every part of your hand (be it fingers, thumbs, wrist, or palm) gives you the ability to hold and move objects. These parts help you grasp and move objects accordingly. So, using these parts, you can perform your daily activities. And that's what hand occupational therapy aims for.
When a patient visits an occupational therapist for hand treatment, the professional conducts an initial assessment to understand the issue. In simple words, hand occupational therapy is a customized treatment plan that helps manage and recover from problems associated with your wrist or hand.
Understanding How Hand Occupational Treatment Works – Things to Note
First things first, hand therapy is an amalgamation of science and art. This treatment evaluates and treats injuries and other conditions. A few therapeutic interventions are used that assist patients to return to their regular activities.
Most commonly, accident survivors experiencing massive car crashes may experience pain in their wrist or hand due to injuries. For them, hand therapy can alleviate pain and treat underlying conditions.
A responsible occupational therapist specializes in kinesiology and physiology of hand therapy to treat conditions resulting from deformity, disease, trauma, or congenital.
Types of Injuries for Which You Can Visit an Occupational Therapist
If you think the condition of your wrist or hand is worsening with each passing day, you must not neglect the condition. Hand therapy with an occupational therapist becomes necessary for different injuries that affect your hand or wrist (at times, upper limbs). So, such injuries can range from chronic to acute conditions. The following are the conditions for which you can visit an occupational therapist and alleviate hand/wrist pain:
Tendonopathy: Disorders affecting the tendons, resulting in pain and reduced function
Sprains: Ligament injuries due to overstretching or tearing
Fractures: Bone breaks in the hand or wrist, requiring rehabilitation for proper healing and function restoration
Tendinitis: Inflammation of the tendons because of repetitive motions
Lacerations/Lesions: Cuts or tears in the skin, nerves, tendons, muscles, or ligaments of the hand or wrist
Overuse injuries: Carpal tunnel syndrome, resulting from repetitive movements
Complex regional pain syndrome or CRPS: A painful condition affecting your hand
Hyposensitivity or hypersensitivity: Abnormalities in sensory perception requiring rehabilitation
Arthritis: Degenerative joint diseases resulting in pain and stiffness (often reducing mobility in hands)
The above conditions need tailored interventions offered by hand therapists to improve healing. At the same time, it restores functions and enhances your quality of life.
Why Should You be Visiting an Occupational Therapist for Hand Treatment?
An occupational therapist’s concern is to help individuals overcome obstacles that restrict them from performing daily chores. Occupational therapists offer the hand treatment as per your condition.
With an occupational therapist by your side, you can get tailored solutions based on your condition. The collaborative approach ensures that your therapy closely aligns with your medical history and diagnosis. Your occupational therapist also monitors your improvement and adjusts the treatment based on your needs. Ultimately, this approach offers a practical solution that improves healing and hand functions.
Well-trained hand therapists ensure treatment to improve your hand condition. They have the required training to offer individualized treatment plans. In addition, the professionals consider your pain, type of injury causing it, and your personal objectives. Then, they offer a personalized approach to ensure optimized solutions after assessing these aspects.
Note that each patient has individual requirements depending on their pain. So, an occupational therapist understands this and offers the right pain management techniques to reduce pain and discomfort.
From regaining strength after an injury to improving motion, a hand therapist does everything. The best part is their all-encompassing occupational practices that include:
Therapeutic massages
Exercises
Other activities to improve your functions
Note that hand therapy can also prevent underlying conditions arising from hand injuries. That's why occupational therapists enlighten patients about body mechanics and techniques to reduce pain and strain.
Lastly, a hand therapist also evaluates your hand condition that may impact your life both physically and emotionally. Furthermore, occupational therapists also offer emotional support throughout your treatment.
So, these are some benefits of occupational therapy for hand injuries. So, you can consult an occupational therapist to treat the condition effectively, whether it's injured nerves, tendons, or fractures.
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