Hand Therapy

Summit Orthopedics’ Maplewood, Vadnais Heights, Woodlake, and Downtown St. Paul-Ritchie Clinics offer hand therapy, focusing on upper extremity rehabilitation. Our certified hand therapists (CHT) utilize traditional, as well as innovative approaches in addressing the patient's needs.

What is hand therapy?

Hand therapy is the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper quadrant of the human body.

Hand therapy is a merging of occupational therapy and physical therapy theory and practice that combines comprehensive knowledge of the upper quadrant, body function, and activity.

Using specialized skills in assessment and treatment, hand therapists promote the goals of prevention of dysfunction, restoration of function, and/or reversal of the progression of pathology in order to enhance participation in life situations for individuals with upper quadrant disease or injury.

Services

Hand therapy is indicated for a variety of elbow, wrist, shoulder, and hand problems including: arthritis, fractures, dislocations, sprains, strains, nerve injuries and compressions (such as pre- and postoperative carpal tunnel syndrome), tendonitis, tennis elbow, tendon repairs, and joint contractures.

A variety of techniques and tools may be used in therapeutic intervention with hand and upper quadrant (hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, or multiple joints) conditions, including but not limited to:

Activity
Adaptive/assistive devices
Training in activities of daily living (ADLs)
Behavior management
Compressive therapy
Desensitization
Electrical modalities-TENS, NMES, iontophoresis, HVPC
Ergonomic modification
Exercise-range of motion
Manual therapy-joint mobilization, myofascial release, counterstrain

Patient and family education
Prosthetic referral
Sensory re-education
Splinting
Standardized and nonstandardized assessment tools
Strengthening
Thermal modalities-hot packs, ultrasound, whirlpool, fluidotherapy, paraffin
Work conditioning
Wound care/dressings/topical agents

These services require the highest level of expertise and offer individualized care. Interventions include exercise programs, modalities, and custom splint fabrication to improve function and return patients to their normal everyday routine as quickly as possible.

Our Hand Therapy clinics are staffed with licensed occupational therapists assessing each patient’s individual needs.

Downtown St. Paul Hand Therapy Center

Hours: Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Contact: (651) 968-5090

Eagan Hand Therapy Center

Hours: Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Contact: (651) 968-5215

Maplewood Hand Therapy Center

Hours: Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Contact: (651) 968-5756

Vadnais Heights Hand Therapy Center

Hours: Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Contact: (651) 968-5180

Woodlake Hand Therapy Center

Hours: please call during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday for available therapy times.
Contact: (651) 968-5800