PHYSICAL THERAPY
Therapy for Elbows, Forearms, Wrists and Hands
Cascade Health’s certified hand therapists are committed to relieving pain and restoring function in your elbows, forearms, wrists and hands. When your hands aren’t functioning well, it can be extremely limiting and make even the most basic tasks challenging. We work with you one-on-one to develop a customized treatment plan that will get you back to doing the things you love.
If you’ve lost function due to an on-the-job injury, are rehabilitating from surgery or are experiencing chronic pain, we can help you put life back into your hands. Contact us today.
About Hand Therapy
Hand therapy is a specialized physical therapy focused on restoring function and reducing pain in your upper extremities (hand, wrists, forearms and elbows) caused by injuries, degenerative illnesses or surgery.
At Cascade Health, all our hand therapists are certified, meaning they are physical or occupational therapists who have undergone extensive additional training, completed at least 5 years of practice and passed a comprehensive exam. They bring a wealth of knowledge and a passion for healing to their jobs, as well as experience with a wide range of treatment techniques.
What are the Benefits of Hand Therapy?
Like all physical therapy, hand therapy is a safe, non-invasive, drug-free treatment that can:
✅ Prevent future injuries
✅ Improve your quality of life
✅ Reduce swelling
✅ Restore strength
✅ Improve function
✅ Reduce pain
✅ Help you avoid surgery
✅ Help you recover from surgery
Amputation care
Arthritis
Carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve impingements
Fractures and dislocations
Functional impairments from autoimmune disorders, swelling, inflammation and congenital anomalies
What Conditions Can Hand Therapy Treat?
Scar tissue reduction
Sprains and strains
Tendinitis
Tendon, ligament and nerve injuries
Tennis elbow
Trigger finger
What Treatments are Available?
We use use a wide variety of therapies to address your injuries holistically. Your hands and upper extremities are some of the most complex parts of your body, with dozens of interconnected bones, muscles and tendons packed into a small area. Using multiple treatments will optimize your recovery and reduce secondary complication in other parts of your body. Some of the treatment options we have available include:
Adaptive techniques and training in assistive devises
Custom orthotics
Desensitization techniques
Ergonomic training and modifications
Home programs
Inflammation and swelling management
Manual therapies (massage, scar massage, etc.)
Post-amputation care and prosthetic training
Post-surgical incision care
Strengthening exercises
Training in preventive techniques
Work conditioning
Wound care
We approach hand therapy as a collaborative partnership. We get to know you, not just your medical condition, and set goals together. We will then build a treatment plan that will help you get the most out of therapy, using a variety of treatments to address your condition from multiple angles.
We will guide and encourage you as you work toward your goals and set benchmarks to help track your progress. If you were referred by your doctor or surgeon, we will also communicate with them regularly to ensure that our protocols meet their treatment objectives.
Our Approach
If you are experiencing chronic pain in your hands, wrists, arms, elbows or shoulders, hand therapy may be able to significantly improve your quality of life.
If you’ve been injured (on or off the job), seeing a hand therapist early may be able to help you avoid the need for more intensive medical care — including surgery — later.
If you are planning on surgery, your doctor may refer you to pre-operative conditioning to reduce your recovery time. They will also usually refer you to physical therapy for post-operative rehabilitation to restore function and avoid long-term.
For more information about becoming a patient and what to expect at your first appointment, please visit our patient information page.