Hand Occupational Therapy

Hand therapists (also referred to as occupational therapists) specialize in conditions affecting hands and upper extremities, including the arm, wrist, elbow, shoulder, and finger joints.

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Ivy Rehab / Therapy Services / Occupational Therapy / Hand Therapy

What is Hand Therapy Treatment?

Hand therapists (also known as occupational therapists) specialize in conditions affecting the hands and upper extremities. Many pursue certification and advanced clinical training to develop specialist skills in hand therapy.

Becoming a hand therapist involves advanced training to treat patients through hand therapy for conditions such as post-surgical rehabilitation, non-surgical hand injuries, conservative care, preventive strategies, and work-related consultations—with input from your physician or surgeon when needed.

Hand therapy often continues even after a patient returns to work or daily activities to further improve function and range of motion.

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What Are Different Types of Hand Therapy Procedures?

Range of motion/stretching
Strengthening
Therapeutic exercises
Wound / scar management
Desensitization techniques
Edema control
Soft tissue mobilization / massage
Functional activities
Work simulation
Work place modifications
Modalities (including ultrasound, electrical stimulation, heat/ice, iontophoresis)
Custom splinting
Custom casting
Home program instruction

How We Approach Hand Therapy

Licensed hand therapists at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy work with you to prevent injuries, improve function after surgery or injury, and help you get back to feeling like yourself again. We treat a variety of conditions—from arthritis and osteoarthritis to chronic and degenerative conditions, trauma, and neurologic recovery after stroke.

Our hand therapists provide one-on-one care to design a custom rehabilitation plan tailored to your specific injury or condition.

Hand pain treatment through occupational therapy can result in:

Faster recovery times
Custom splint fabrication
Decreased medical costs
Better functional outcomes

Request your appointment today at an Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy location near you to learn more about hand therapy.

FAQs

Can hand therapy help arthritis, osteoarthritis, or other chronic degenerative conditions?

Yes. Hand therapy can benefit people with arthritis, osteoarthritis, and chronic degenerative changes by improving motion, supporting joint function, and helping restore function.

Do I need a physician or surgeon referral for hand therapy?

In many cases, you can schedule an appointment directly. However, a physician or surgeon may recommend hand therapy based on your diagnosis, surgical needs, or a history of chronic disorders.

Is hand therapy available for pediatric cases or simple fingertip injuries?

Yes. Hand therapy can support pediatric care, including simple fingertip injuries, and can also assist with recovery after neurologic events like stroke when upper extremity function is affected.

What conditions do hand therapy specialists treat in the hand and upper extremity?

A hand therapy specialist may treat the arm, wrist, elbow, shoulder, and finger joint issues, ranging from trauma and deformity to orthopedic and neurologic conditions.

What should I expect at my first visit (PT assessment and diagnosis)?

Your first visit typically includes a PT assessment, a review of symptoms and history, and clinical testing to support diagnosis. Your therapist will recommend a plan that may include therapeutic exercises and orthotic fabrication when appropriate.

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Discover how Ivy Rehab can help you achieve your therapy goals.

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Ivy Rehab in Island Park is the best Physical therapy experience ever. The minute you walk in you already know you will be well taken care of. John is a fantastic therapist who has a wonderful team working with him. Everyone treats you with care, skill and interest as if every patient matters. There were a couple of times that John was out sick and the entire staff worked like a well oiled machine. Everyone was attended to in a timely caring matter, asking good questions to be sure that your treatment plan was adhered to and felt as if you has a great session.

Response from the owner:It's great to hear this feedback! Thank you for taking the time to share your review! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Island Park

Denise, Kurt and Krista were all very helpful in my rehab from a ruptured Achilles tendon. Their knowledge and care was top notch. Their scheduling was very flexible and understanding. My comfort and progression was the number one goal. I am happy to announce I am rehabilitated and headed back to work. Thank you Ivy rehab!

Response from the owner:Thank you for the great review, we really appreciate it! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Grand Blanc

Rudolph Vidi is the best! Kind, patient, very thorough & knowledgeable. Excellent teacher & he provided me with an easy to follow individualized home exercise program.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your review. We are glad you had a great experience and keep up with your exercises!

I've been taking my kids here for various therapy programs for a handful of months now and already the progress with my son for speech is incredible. They really enjoy the play space, so much so that my son usually has to be incentivized to leave lol The receptionist is extremely friendly and is great with the kids, and I can't say enough about all of our wonderful therapists. Thanks for all the hard work you do you guys, the kiddos love seeing you, and you're helping those of us without a professional therapist background to understand how to best help our kids. Your hard work doesn't go unnoticed. 🙂

Response from the owner:Thank you April! We love helping the children in our communities!

Excel PT was great. The staff are personable and skilled and my excellent physical therapist, Nick was compassionate and paid attention to the details of my treatment. He worked with me for six weeks as I recovered from a knee injury. and has set me up to not only feel better but also work on my strength. I highly recommend him!

Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing this with us! – The team at Excel Physical Therapy – Cresskill

My daughter has been working with her speech therapist, Stephanie, for the past two years. She loves seeing Miss. Stephanie throughout the week. When she started her therapy she could only say four words, now she has a large vocabulary and has been improving her articulation and intelligibility with her speech. She’s made so much improvement and loves Miss. Stephanie.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your positive feedback, it means the world to us! – The team at Ivy Rehab for Kids, Brighton!

Scientific assessment and progression of treatment. Attentive to form, and to ensure the right muscles were engaging. I did PT two times before finding this Ivy location. I wish I had found it sooner.

Response from the owner:It’s great to hear this feedback! Thank you for taking the time to share your review! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, Blue Bell – South

Normally, I don't leave reviews but must say that Mary Ellen was a terrific therapist. Wise, competent, compassionate and balanced. Her evaluation and treatment were spot on! She was able to reduce my pain effectively and set me on the path to recovery. I cannot say enough good things about her skill and kindness. JH

Response from the owner:Your kind review made our day, thank you so much! – The team at Back in Action Physical Therapy – Apex

I have been going to ivy rehab for yrs when it was known as progress therapy. I would recommend everyone to go there. I’ve done both Aqua and Land therapy, they are very accommodating.

Response from the owner:We value your feedback, thank you for your kind words! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, Bala Cynwyd – North

Great place. Well organized and the perfect place to rehab if you want a place that will treat your condition with consideration the right way. Lori, my child's physical therapist, has been a blessing for our family. It's has been great to have a therapist who actually cares about the patient and gives detailed effort. You can tell the difference instead of being treated by someone who is just there for the paycheck and treats you like any other random patient.

I love this PT clinic. Everyone is so nice. It starts off with Doris at the front desk to the PT techs and physical therapist. I would highly recommend the Kempsville site. I currently attend 3X a week. Everyone here is so friendly.

I worked with Kyle and the team at Ivy Rehab for 3+ months. They were fantastic, knowledgeable and so kind! I wouldn’t be where I am now without them. Highly recommend!

Response from the owner:Hearing this feedback means so much to us – thank you for sharing! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Comstock Park

Maximum Performance is a great place for PT. Everyone is professional, friendly and the atmosphere if good. They understand my issues with my spine and have exercises that are working to restore my mobility.

Response from the owner:That's wonderful to hear – thank you so much for sharing your feedback with us! – The team at Maximum Performance Physical Therapy, North Arlington

Mary Ellen and the whole team were fantastic to work with. Encouraging when I got frustrated with progress, willing to try new things, always inquisitive and realistic with goals and “homework” so I felt empowered and safe to keep up with my daily tasks while not making my injury worse. I have already, and will continue, to recommend this group and Mary Ellen to friends and family.

Response from the owner:It's great to hear this feedback! Thank you for taking the time to share your review! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Cary

I've been procrastinating giving this review, not because I was unhappy about anything but because it's one of my many character flaws. Actually it was a great experience working with Dylan and his staff! It was life-changing! I was hospitalized for over a week earlier in 2025, and was signed up for physical therapy to regain my strength and balance. With Dylan's help and encouragement, I've totally changed for the better. In fact, I'm in the best shape now than I've been in for the last 10 years. I stayed with Dylan as long as I could, and re-signed up as many times as Medicare would allow. Anyway, I very much recommend anyone to do their physical therapy at the IvyRehab in Farmville. You won't be sorry!

Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing this with us! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Farmville

If you’re recovering from surgery, or looking to avoid surgery, this is your place! Their staff is knowledgeable, courteous, and encouraging. They listen to you, modify any exercise for your specific situation and work with you until a resolution is found. I’ve been through pelvic floor, hip, and elbow treatments including manual therapy, dry needling, stretching and strengthening. I will never go anywhere else now.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, we appreciate you! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy, Comstock Park

Alison was thorough, professional and overall very nice. Each communication I’ve had with Ivy has been excellent. Everyone is polite and very professional.

Response from the owner:It's always wonderful to hear such kind feedback , we appreciate you! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Norfolk – Granby

WE LOVE ABC!! I literally can not say enough POSITIVE things about this place! The therapists are WONDERFUL- the front desk staff is always SUPER helpful, and Both of my children are doing amazing since starting therapy!! I did have a *small issue* with one therapist and we ended up switching to another one. Just a personal preference- nothing negative- hardly even an *issue* lol. Overall I love this place and recommend it to EVERYONE!! If you have been on the fence if therapy is right for your family or not- CHECK THEM OUT!! I promise you won’t be disappointed!!!!

Unfortunately this was the third time I needed rehab, following hip replacement, tennis elbow, and strained back. Fortunately I had found Excel in Old Tappan and Evan O’Brien who helped me completely recover to move on with my life and activities. I highly recommend Excel with no reservations. The whole team is great.

Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your positive feedback, it means the world to us! – The team at Excel Physical Therapy, Cresskill

I called Ivy Rehab on Washington Street and the front desk was able to give me clear input right away about my insurance benefits. When I arrived for my first appointment, it was really nice to see some familiar faces from when I was there several years ago. The therapist I had in the past moved to a different Ivy location – all good signs of a decent place to work (I hope!). My therapist, Bobby, was engaged in my process and did great work with me. The support staff were all friendly and easy-going… I don't recall everyone's name, but they include Nicole and Jerry (the good music meister). I recommend giving them a try!

Response from the owner:Your kind review made our day, thank you so much! – The team at Ivy Rehab Physical Therapy – Hoboken – Midtown

PTW- Montgomeryville is an excellent place to go for PT. Usually PT places are boring, sad, and lack energy. This place is far from that. The physical therapists keep it exciting and help take your mind and focus off your pain. The place is clean, sanitary, and organized. The staff are friendly, helpful, and fun!