31 Aug Why Your Hands May Need Physiotherapy…& What Treatment Will Look Like

When you think about physiotherapy, there’s a good chance your hands aren’t the first thing to come to mind. You might be picturing the athlete recovering from a sports injury, or someone dealing with chronic back and neck pain caused by heavy physical work or sitting at a desk all day.

But if you take a minute to consider all the small bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints that make up your hands and wrists—and the precise movements they coordinate all day, every day—it’s no surprise that they sometimes need some love.

So, what does hand physiotherapy actually involve?

At Acceleration Physiotherapy in Sherwood Park, our fantastic therapist, Brittney Achtymichuk, provides individualized hand and wrist therapy to help patients reduce pain, restore movement, improve strength, and get back to the activities that matter to them.

Here’s a closer look at what you can expect from a hand therapy appointment.

Private, One-on-One Assessment

Your first visit at Acceleration Physiotherapy begins with a private, one-on-one assessment with your physiotherapist. The goal is to understand what’s happening with your hand or wrist and determine what may be contributing to your symptoms.

You may already know what is causing your symptoms when you arrive. For example, you may have:

• Undergone hand or wrist surgery
• Experienced an injury such as a sprain, strain, fracture, or dislocation
• Been diagnosed with arthritis
• Developed carpal tunnel syndrome
• Experienced trigger finger
• Developed tendonitis or another tendon-related condition
• Recently had a child and developed postpartum hand or wrist pain

Other patients may not have a specific diagnosis. You may simply notice pain, stiffness, numbness, tingling, weakness, reduced grip strength, or difficulty using your hand normally.

Either way, your physiotherapist will complete a comprehensive assessment to better understand the underlying problem—not simply treat the symptom.

Your assessment may include an evaluation of:

• Grip and pinch strength
• Range of motion
• Joint alignment and stability
• Swelling and pain
• Sensation and nerve-related symptoms
• Functional use of your hand and wrist
• How your symptoms affect work, hobbies, exercise, and everyday activities

This information helps your physiotherapist develop a treatment plan that is specific to your injury, condition, goals, and lifestyle.

Hands-On (pun intended) Treatment and Movement Therapy

Once your physiotherapist understands what is contributing to your symptoms, treatment can begin.

Depending on your condition, hand and wrist physiotherapy may include hands-on techniques to improve joint and soft-tissue mobility, reduce stiffness, and help restore normal movement.

Your physiotherapist may also use therapeutic exercises to improve:

• Strength
• Flexibility
• Range of motion
• Grip and pinch strength
• Coordination
• Joint stability
• Functional movement

Your treatment will be adjusted as you progress. The exercises that are appropriate immediately after an injury or surgery may be very different from those needed later in your recovery.

Personalized Exercises for Home

Recovery doesn’t only happen in the clinic.

Your physiotherapist may provide you with a personalized home exercise program designed to complement your in-clinic treatment. These exercises give you an opportunity to continue working on your mobility, strength, and function between appointments.

Your program will depend on your specific needs. Some patients may need gentle mobility exercises, while others may benefit from progressive strengthening or exercises designed to restore fine motor control.

The goal is to give you practical tools that support your recovery and help you become more confident using your hand again.

Education and Activity Modification

Hand therapy is also about understanding how your daily activities may be contributing to your symptoms.

Your physiotherapist can help you identify movements, positions, or activities that may be aggravating your hand or wrist. If your symptoms are related to work, sports, hobbies, or repetitive movements, your treatment plan may include strategies for modifying those activities while you recover.

For example, you may receive guidance on ways to gradually return to:

• Work duties
• Weight training and exercise
• Sports
• Household tasks
• Typing and computer work
• Hobbies that require repetitive hand movements
• Other activities that involve gripping, lifting, or fine motor control

This can be particularly important after an injury or surgery, when returning to normal activity too quickly may increase your symptoms.

Helping You Get Back to What You Do

The purpose of hand physiotherapy isn’t simply to make your hand feel better while you’re in the clinic. The bigger goal is to help you use your hand and wrist comfortably and confidently in everyday life.

Whether you’re recovering from an injury, dealing with a chronic condition, or experiencing unexplained pain or stiffness, a personalized physiotherapy assessment can help identify what may be limiting your function and what can be done to improve it.

Looking for Hand Therapy in Sherwood Park?

If hand or wrist pain, stiffness, weakness, or reduced mobility is affecting your daily life, the team at Acceleration Physiotherapy in Sherwood Park can help.

Our physiotherapists will take the time to understand your symptoms, assess how your hand and wrist are functioning, and develop an individualized treatment plan based on your goals.

Book an assessment at Acceleration Physiotherapy in Sherwood Park to get started.