Hand therapy
What we do
We are a regional hand unit consisting of specialist occupational therapists and physiotherapists who work together to manage patients with a variety of hand injuries and conditions. These include fractures, tendon and nerve repairs following trauma or surgery. Conditions range from simple single finger injuries to complex multiple injuries. We aim to help patients manage their own rehabilitation and return to optimum function.
We offer both outpatient and inpatient hand therapy. For outpatients this usually follows a referral from the Hand Management Unit or from local GPs. Inpatients – both adults and children – are referred to us following trauma or planned surgery and are then followed up as outpatients once they have left the hospital.
Hand therapy involves:
- Education on surgical procedures, time scales, precautions and answering patients questions
- Splinting the affected hand to protect it after surgery
- Exercises to preserve function of joints
- Scar and oedema management
- Functional evaluation of the hand to aid in decisions on whether surgery is needed
Information
- Active finger exercises
- Active finger extension exercises
- CAM Week 1-2
- CAM Week 2-3
- CAM Week 3-4
- Extensor tendon information leaflet
- Flexor tendon information sheet
- Mallet Info Sheet
- Merritt 0-3wks
- Merritt 3-5wks
- Merritt 5-7 wks
- Passive finger flexion exercises
- PIPJ Injuries
- PIPJ resisted extension exercises
- Thumb active exercises
- Wrist active exercises
- Wrist passive exercises
- Wrist stability and strengthening exercises
Our team
The team is led by a hand therapy consultant, supported by a clinical specialist hand therapist, 13 full time hand Therapists and one therapy assistant.
Location
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
We are located on the Ground Floor, Lift Bank C
Contact
T: 020 3315 8404
Opening hours
Our service runs Mon–Fri from 8am with most therapists working to 5pm, two of the senior therapists work until 6pm. We currently cannot offer weekend or late evening appointments.