What should you know about specialized hand therapy?

A hand therapist assesses joints, tendons, nerves, sensation, swelling, grip, and the tasks that matter to you. Treatment may include a custom splint, scar care, gentle mobility work, strengthening, nerve-gliding exercises, and practice with dressing, writing, work, or other activities.

It can support recovery after a fracture or surgery and help manage conditions such as [De Quervain's Tenosynovitis](/conditions/de-quervain-tenosynovitis/), [Hand Osteoarthritis](/conditions/hand-osteoarthritis/), or [Rheumatoid Arthritis](/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/). The programme changes as healing, pain, and movement change.

Bring details of your injury, operations, medicines, work demands, and the movements you find difficult. Use a splint only as directed, practise the exercises at the recommended intensity, and protect healing tissue from forceful gripping or repetitive loading.

Tell the therapist if an exercise causes sharp pain, increasing swelling, numbness, or a lasting change in colour or sensation. Hand therapy may be coordinated with surgery, including [Carpal Tunnel Release](/treatments/reconstructive-orthopedic-surgery/carpal-tunnel-release/) or [Dupuytren's Surgery](/treatments/reconstructive-orthopedic-surgery/dupuytren-surgery/).

Seek prompt medical assessment for a newly deformed finger or wrist, sudden loss of movement, rapidly increasing swelling, an open injury, or a hand that becomes cold, pale, blue, or unusually numb. Contact your care team if a splint causes pressure, skin damage, or worsening tingling.

Ask which movements are safe, whether you need a splint, how to measure progress, and which work or household tasks should be modified. Clarify when therapy should start after an operation and who to contact if symptoms worsen.