What Makes Hand Physiotherapy Unique?

When it comes to rehabilitation and recovery, not all therapy is the same. In Edmonton, CHTs are either physical therapists (PTs) or occupational therapists (OTs) who have the extra training necessary to provide specialized care. 

Let’s learn what makes hand clinics in Edmonton so unique.

Education and Training Requirements

Physical Therapists are licensed professionals who complete a degree in physical therapy, pass national exams, and are trained to treat a wide range of conditions affecting movement and function. Their role encompasses full-body rehabilitation, including more general treatment of areas like the hands, wrists, and elbows.

Hand Therapists often begin as physical therapists or occupational therapists who later choose to specialize in the upper extremity. To become a certified hand therapist, practitioners must complete at least three years and 4,000 hours of direct hand therapy experience before passing a national certification exam. In Edmonton, CHTs are 50/50 PTs and OTs. 

Distinct Focus Areas

PTs focus on restoring movement, reducing pain, and helping patients return to everyday activities after injury or surgery. Their treatments commonly target general injuries of the elbows, wrists, and hands. CHTs, on the other hand, have the advanced expertise to treat more complex cases, including custom splint fabrication. 

Treatment Methods and Approach

Both PTs and CHTs assess patient history, diagnose functional limitations, and develop individualized treatment plans. They also educate patients about their condition, expected outcomes, and preventive measures to avoid reinjury.

Physical therapy treatments may include manual therapy, massage, therapeutic exercise, blood flow restriction therapy, dry needling, and treadmill exercises. These tools support whole-body recovery, especially for lower extremity conditions or general mobility issues.

Hand therapists employ a range of specialized techniques, including paraffin wax treatments, scar management, and custom orthotic splinting, in addition to shared tools like ultrasound, manual therapy, and kinesiotaping. Because of the complexity of hand and wrist injuries, these methods are often time-sensitive and highly specific.

Injuries Commonly Treated in Hand Therapy

Hand therapists treat a broad spectrum of conditions, including:

• Post-surgical recovery for elbows, wrists, or hands

• Motor vehicle and workplace injuries to the upper extremity

• Sprains, fractures, and dislocations of the hand or wrist

• Sports injuries impacting grip or upper limb function

• Carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndromes

• Tendonitis, thumb arthritis, and trigger finger

• Tendon lacerations, amputations, and general hand pain

These cases often require immediate intervention to prevent long-term dysfunction and ensure proper healing.

Choosing the Right Therapy for Your Needs

Selecting between general physical therapy and hand therapy depends on the location and nature of your injury. For mobility or lower-body rehabilitation, a physical therapist may be best suited to help. If your condition involves the elbow, wrist, or hand, seeking care from a certified hand therapist ensures specialized knowledge and treatment techniques specific to that region.

The experts from Reach Sports Physiotherapy & Hand Clinic can help assess your needs and provide the right treatment plan for you. Contact us today online or call (587) 635-5258.