As occupational therapists, our hand therapists focus on returning you to your occupation. Occupation refers to activities you do every day, such as dressing, bathing, grooming, or feeding, as well as sports, playing a musical instrument, work, and caregiving. Our hand therapy team teaches you how to reduce pain and protect the joints in your arm. We help you learn to use adaptive equipment such as can openers, rocker knives, and built-up handles) and promote activity modification, such as learning better carrying techniques when lifting.
Hand Therapy
Regain Function and Motion in Your Hand, Wrist, Elbow, Forearm, or Shoulder
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Overview
You may be referred for hand therapy following an injury, surgery, or condition that affects your hand, wrist, elbow, forearm, or shoulder. Hand therapy can help you regain motion and function following a fracture, nerve, tendon, or ligament injury, joint instability, and arthritis.
Hand therapy is performed by Duke occupational therapists who specialize in hand therapy. They work closely with orthopedic hand surgeons and plastic surgeons to evaluate your concerns and develop a personalized treatment plan to help you achieve your personal goals. They can range from dressing yourself and caring for your children to returning to work or sports.
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Occupation-based Care
Our Locations
Duke Health offers locations throughout the Triangle. Find one near you.
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Why Choose Duke
Extensive Skills and Knowledge
Many Duke OT hand therapists are board-certified, meaning they have met the rigorous requirements set by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission. The requirements include three years of experience, 4,000 hours of patient care specific to hand and arm rehabilitation, and passing a comprehensive examination. To maintain the certified hand therapist (CHT) credential, Duke hand therapists must complete continuing education in hand and arm rehabilitation.
Advanced Equipment
Our hand therapy team are expert in the use of the latest advances in equipment to meet your hand and arm rehabilitative needs.
We Work as a Team with Your Surgeons and Doctors
The OT hand therapists are often part of your doctor’s clinics, which ensures your hand therapist has consistent and direct contact with your provider. We work as a team to ensure we meet your needs.
On-going Research
Our hand therapy team is active in the research community and often assists with research alongside our hand surgeons. The hand therapy team participates in ongoing journal article reviews to ensure we stay up to date on new evidence. Several hand therapy team members have presented on rehabilitation topics at the national and state level.
This page was medically reviewed on 09/12/2022 by