Treatments & Services

Get on the Mend

At Hand Therapy of Capitola we specialize in the care of people with shoulder, elbow, wrist and/or hand injuries.

Our service always begins with an extensive clinical evaluation – history, joint mobility, strength, edema (swelling), sensation, function, range of motion.

All medical, vocational and social history aspects are considered to develop a plan of care that will assist you in returning to your activities of daily living.

Upon completion of the evaluation, our therapist Kerri will provide you with a scheduled duration and course of treatment.  

You will also be given a home program to specifically address your needs.

Treatments

Modalities to Assist in Pain Relief

We may use several methods to increase your function or reduce your pain throughout treatment sessions. This can include the use of heat or cold, pneumatic compression, lymphatic massage, soft tissue and trigger point mobilizations, instrument assisted therapeutic soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) ultrasound, electrical stimulation, iontophoresis. 

Orthotics

Custom orthotics (splints) may be important for your care for many reasons such as: to immobilize and rest, protect injured areas, assist in increase in function, stretch and increase joint mobility, maintain alignment of a joint after a joint replacement or prevention of joint deformity.

Additionally, modifications to existing orthotics may be done. We also do silver ring assessments and measurements.

You’ll receive training on how to use your orthotics including care, precautions, timing, and duration of use.

Manual Therapy

A variety of techniques and procedures may be used in therapeutic intervention with hand and upper extremity injuries, including but not limited to:

  • Joint mobilization
  • Passive and active range of motion
  • Manual lymphatic drainage and edema reduction
  • Scar mobilization
  • Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, negative pressure
  • Myofascial release
  • Trigger point therapy
  • Neuromuscular therapy

Therapeutic Exercises

  • Active range of motion
  • Active/active-assist range of motion
  • Strengthening
  • Conditioning/endurance
  • Desensitization
  • Grasp/pinch exercises
  • Nerve gliding exercises

Neuromuscular Reeducation

  • Therapeutic taping
  • Proprioceptive training
  • Muscle reeducation
  • Dexterity and coordination training
  • Sensory reeducation
  • Relaxation techniques

Therapeutic Activities

  • Activities of daily living (reaching, lifting, carrying, dressing, etc.)
  • Grasp and pinch prehension activities
  • Upper extremity movement activities

Education

  • Symptom management
  • Training in healthy work, home or recreational activities  (ergonomic education and training)
  • Home Exercise Program
  • Home Strengthening Program
  • Arthritis joint protection instruction/energy conservation instruction
  • Training in ADL/adaptive/assistive devices
  • Ergonomic evaluation and recommendations

Conditions

Upper Extremity including shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand

  • Amputations
  • Arthroplasties or joint replacement
  • Boutonniere & Swan Neck Finger Deformities
  • Burns
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • CMC Joint Thumb Arthritis
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
  • Crush Injuries
  • Cubital Tunnel (Elbow pain)
  • Cumulative Trauma Disorders
  • Cysts or Tumors
  • DeQuervain’s (Tenosynovitis)
    Degenerative Joint Disease
  • Degloving Injuries
  • Dislocations and Subluxations
  • Distal biceps repair
  • Dupuytren’s Disease
  • Edema/Swelling
  • Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
  • Epicondylitis/osis
  • Extensor Tendon Injuries
  • Lymphedema affecting the upper extremity
  • Medial or lateral
  • Nerve injuries or compressions such as Cubital tunnel or Radial Tunnel Syndrome
  • Nervous System Injuries
  • Joint replacements
  • Fractures
  • Muscular Strains, Tears, and Avulsions
  • Nerve Compression/Entrapment Injuries
  • Nerve Injuries and Conditions
    (e.g., neuropathies, palsies, nerve repairs)
  • Overuse Injuries
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Pain
    (e.g. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/CRPS, fibromyalgia)
  • Raynauds Disease
  • Repetitive Trauma injuries
    Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Replantation and Revascularization
  • Scleroderma
  • Sprains or strains
  • Tendon Injuries and Conditions
    (e.g., lacerations, transfers, tendonitis, tendons,
    frozen shoulder)
  • Tendonitis
  • Parsonage Turner Syndrome
  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
  • Rotator Cuff injuries or repairs
  • ruptures, subluxations)
  • Tendon or Nerve Transfers
  • Tendonitis
  • Texting Thumb
  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
  • Trauma (multi-system injuries)
  • Trigger Thumb/Finger
  • Vascular Disorders
  • Wounds or infections

Don’t see a condition listed? Please call or drop an email to kerri@handtherapycapitola.com and let’s see if I can help you.

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Get in touch today to schedule an appointment and get back to doing what you love!

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