Occupational Therapists are government registered primary health care practitioners who have completed their bachelors of science in Occupational Therapy with honours. Hand therapists then complete another 3 years of training to become certified hand therapists. A hand therapist will evaluate and identify problems affecting the upper limb. A hand therapist often works alongside surgeons, planning and implementing pre and post-operative care. Hand therapy has a crucial role in the recovering from injury of the hand and wrist.
Hand therapy can be described as the non-surgical management of hand disorders and injuries using physical methods such as exercise, and splinting. Hand therapy also incorporates techniques such as scar management, brain retraining, joint mobilisations, stretching, active and resisted exercises, and ultrasound therapy. A hand therapist can assist with emotional and psychological support as well as the restoration of hand function. The hands are an extraordinary part of the body and allow us an ability to perform multiple different activities of potentially incredible dexterity.