Reduce Hand and Wrist Pain with Hand Therapy
When your hands are in pain, simple tasks start to feel insurmountable. You might struggle to type on your computer, pick up utensils, use your phone, and more–all of which can significantly affect your work and personal life. Fortunately, hand therapy at Aspen Ridge Physical Therapy offers effective, scientifically backed approaches to addressing hand pain (and more).
Hand therapy is a specialized form of therapy targeting conditions and post-surgical rehabilitation of the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Our tailored treatment plans will help you find relief by incorporating a blend of evidence-based techniques.
You don’t have to struggle with hand discomfort. Request an appointment with our Layton and Syracuse, UT-based certified hand therapists today.
What Conditions Can Hand Therapy Address?
Hand therapy is an excellent choice for the many conditions that affect our upper extremities, including the following:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: We can help resolve symptoms from carpal tunnel syndrome or other nerve entrapments.
- Tendinopathies: We can help resolve common tendon issues, such as tennis elbow.
- Fractures: We can help you restore strength and functionality after a hand, wrist, or arm fracture.
- Arthritis: Arthritis often affects the hand and wrists. We can help you manage your symptoms.
- Post-Surgical Rehabilitation: Undergone surgery on your hand, wrist, or shoulder? We’ll help you restore strength, mobility, and functionality.
What to Expect from Hand Therapy
Our certified hand therapists will begin with a comprehensive evaluation that reviews your health history and current symptoms. We might also ask you to perform some simple movement screens to help us better understand your condition.
From there, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan based on your needs. Techniques we might utilize include the following:
- Manual Therapy: To reduce pain, promote blood circulation, and ease mobility restrictions
- Targeted Exercises: To build or restore strength and dexterity in your hands, fingers, and wrists
- Custom Bracing or Splinting: To protect and remove pressure from the joints, helping with pain management and injury recovery
- Modifications: Suggestions for activity or movement modifications to help you more easily perform day-to-day activities
Diagnoses & Conditions List
Shoulder & Elbow
- Conservative and Post-Operative Management of:
- Humerus Fractures
- Elbow Fractures including Montegia Fractures, Galeazzi Fractures, Essex-Lopresti Fractures, and Terrible Triad Repairs
- Elbow Dislocations
- Nerve Compressions
- Elbow Tendinopathies
- Biceps Repair
- Triceps Repair
Hand / Fingers
- Conservative and Post-Operative Management of:
- OA including 1st CMC arthroplasties such as suspensionplasties, trapeziectomies, LRTI
- Nerve Compressions
- Trigger Finger/Thumb and Pulley Injuries
- Hand, Finger, Thumb Fractures
- Finger/Thumb Dislocations such as Collateral Ligament Injuries, including Skier’s thumb, and Volar Plate Injuries
- Extensor Mechanism Injuries including Sagittal Band Injuries, Lateral Band Injuries, Central Slip Injuries, Mallet Finger Injuries
- Post-operative Management for Dupuytren’s Disease
- Post-operative Management of Flexor and Extensor Tendon Repairs
Other
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS)
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
- Nerve Lacerations and Nerve Transfers
- Tendon Transfers
- Complex, Multi-Trauma such as “Spaghetti Wrist”
Wrist
- Conservative and Post-Operative Management of:
- Distal Radius Fractures
- Carpal Fractures
- TFCC Injuries
- Carpal Instability
- Tendinopathies including DeQuervain’s Tenosynovitis, Intersection Syndrome, ECU Tendinitis
- Arthritis Management, including Post-Operative Management of Salvage Procedures
Pediatrics
- Orthopedic Injuries of the Upper Extremity including sports related injuries such as Jersey Finger and Gymnast Wrist
- Management of and Orthosis Fabrication for Cerebral Palsy and Congenital Disorders including Camptodactyly and Pediatric Trigger Thumb
Meet our Certified Hand Therapist
Vanessa Alleruzzo
OTD, OTR/L, CHT
Vanessa grew up in Southern California, but has lived all over. She attended college at Duquesne University in Pennsylvania, graduate school at Indiana Wesleyan University in Indiana, studying abroad on three continents, and worked for years as a traveling Occupational Therapist. She settled in Utah with her husband—whom she met in Alaska—and is excited to bring her diverse background in Hand Therapy to Aspen Ridge.