Hand Therapy is defined as the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper extremity (hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder). It combines occupational and physical therapy theory with comprehensive knowledge of the upper extremity structure, function, and activity. Hand therapy uses various therapeutic interventions to prevent impairment, restore function, and/or reverse the progression of hand and upper extremity conditions such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Certified Hand Therapists are Occupational or Physical Therapists that have a minimum of 3 years of clinical experience, including 4,000 hours or more of direct hand therapy practice. Certified Hand Therapists also pass a comprehensive certification exam of advanced clinical skills and rehabilitative theory, and are required to recertify every 5 years. At FORM Hand Therapy, we provide continuing education and training for our Occupational Therapists pursuing certification in hand therapy.

Our therapists conduct a thorough evaluation of your condition, discuss treatment plans, and formulate an effective program to help you achieve your therapy goals successfully. Hand therapists focus on the process of regaining range of motion, protection of healing structures, and restoring function. We use a variety of methods to tailor treatment plans to meet the unique needs of our patients. Our hands-on, one-on-one approach to therapy ensures that you receive the best possible care.

A variety of techniques and tools may be used in In therapeutic intervention, including but not limited to:

• Activity/exercise regimes custom-designed to increase motion, dexterity, and strength with the ultimate goal of improving function
• Behavior management
• Compressive therapy
• Desensitization, sensory re-education or sensory compensatory techniques
• Electrical modalities
• Ergonomic modifications
• Adaptive techniques and suggestions for adaptive/assistive devices equipment
• Industrial consultation
• Joint protection and energy conservation training
• Manual therapy
• Orthotic fabrication for post-op surgical protection/immobilization, correction of injury or deformity and conservative management of common upper extremity syndromes
• Prosthetic training
• Thermal modalities
• Work conditioning/hardening/retraining

Since our hand therapists work closely with the physician and patient, often starting within days of the injury or surgery, patients experience the following benefits

• Reduction in overall treatment time due to accurate assessments, immediate care, and effective treatment.
• Decreased medical costs due to faster recovery.
• Reduced need for multiple medical providers in following a continuum of care protocol to ensure the best outcomes for patients.
• Maximized rehabilitation outcomes for patients ensuring a faster return-to-work and a productive lifestyle.

Your appointment time is usually based on your diagnosis and state of progress. But generally, a hand therapy appointment may last between 30 minutes and one hour.

Patients will not have to travel far to see us. With our convenient location in Fremont, we are easily accessible to Silicon Valley, Oakland, and the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area. Check out our Map and Directions page for specifics.

Our office is open Monday through Friday and offers appointments as early as 6 am to accommodate patients before work. At FORM Hand Therapy, our office hours are: Monday – Thursday – 6:00 am – 5:00 pm Friday – 6:00 am – 3:30 pm Saturday and Sunday – Closed

Hand therapy is actually a specialty practice area of occupational therapy where the focus is on treating orthopedic-based upper extremity conditions to optimize the functional use of the hand and arm.

If you are someone who has developed limitations in range of motion or function of the hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder whether it be from acute or chronic conditions, injury or trauma, limited by instability or disability, even amputation with replantation and revascularization, our hand therapists are here to help you regain functionality. Hand therapy can be approached as the first line of treatment as conservative management, initiated as a preventative treatment, and extremely necessary following any hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder surgery. Ask your doctor for a referral to FORM Hand Therapy to get started.

If you have additional questions, please call the FORM Hand Therapy office at (510) 585-2535.