Hand therapy

The initial situation is comprehensively assessed at the start of therapy. This is done using:

• Medical history and clinical examination: Recording surgical measures, injuries or conditions.
• Functional tests: Assessment of mobility, muscle strength, grip strength, fine motor skills and sensory abilities.
• Pain analysis: Investigation of the cause of pain and its influence on mobility.
• Setting objectives: Definition of individual, patient-specific therapy objectives, such as regaining everyday functions or job-specific requirements.

Hand rehabilitation includes various interdisciplinary approaches in order to ensure restoration of as much function as possible. These are the most important methods at

Activity/participation level:

• Training for everyday, professional and leisure activities.​
• Training in fine motor skills: Promoting the grip function and dexterity in daily life.

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Structural/functional level:

• Manual therapy: Mobilisation of joints, tendons and nerves to improve mobility and relieve pain.

• Motor learning: Following nerve and tendon transfer, it is extremely important to practise the future muscle functions (motor learning).

• Active and passive mobilisation: Exercises to restore the range of movement.

• Strength training: Specific training to strengthen the hand muscles, in particular following muscle atrophy.

• Adaptations and provision of aids: Adjustment of aids to make everyday activities easier.

• Hand splints and orthoses: To stabilise, immobilise or correct misalignments, particularly after operations. Dynamic splints for targeted promotion of certain movements.

• Wound/scar management: Changing dressings after operations, incl. removing stitches. Support with subsequent wound/scar management.

• Sensitivity training: Supporting tactile perception, in particular following nerve injuries or operations.

• Pain management: Use of complementary therapies such as cold/heat treatments, electrotherapy or ultrasound to reduce pain and inhibit inflammation.

• Electrotherapy: Individual electrical stimulation according to the objectives and structural conditions.