Hand Therapy

Helping treat hand, finger, wrist and upper limb injuries

A hand therapist is a registered physiotherapist who specialises in the rehabilitation of patients with conditions affecting the hands and upper limb. Emma Bamford, our Accredited Hand Therapist B.A.H.T. can help you return to a productive lifestyle following injury, disease or deformity affecting your hand.

Why see a hand therapist?

The hand is one of the most complex parts of your body. The movement of the tendons, bones, tissues and nerves allows someone to grip and do a wide variety of complex jobs.

handpain Therefore the hands of an individual make them a skilled, valuable worker. Following a hand injury, the hand may not function as it did before the injury due to loss of motion, dexterity, grip and ability to complete the simplest of tasks. In turn this regularly results in loss of earnings. These patients require treatment in order to return them to work, social and sporting activities.

By seeing a Hand Therapist you will receive specialist care to enable the optimal management of your injury and therefore an improved outcome.

Many people think that all finger injuries are managed by strapping fingers together or that there are simply no options for arthritic hands or ‘weak wrists’. This is a myth and often a hand therapist can provide you with that treatment and/or management strategy and/or splint to enable you to continue your hobbies, get back to what you enjoy and reduce or manage your pain and symptoms.
At the very least a hand therapist might be able to assess to establish the root of your problem and instigate a referral to further physicians to get the treatment your require.

Do you experience

thumb pain

Finger injuries

Wrist pain

Tingling fingers

Weak wrists

IF THE ANSWER IS YES, THEN HAND THERAPY CAN HELP YOU!

About Emma Bamford

Emma took over our hand service which was established by Laura Parker to offer appointments to clients who require hand therapy outside of Monday to Friday nine till five working hours.

She can help evaluate and identify problems affecting the upper limbs as well as provide advice regarding exercise, preventative care, splintage, advice on aids to daily living and ergonomic consultation.

Emma qualified in 2008 at The University of Brighton and then worked in various locations in midlands gaining experience in different areas of physiotherapy including orthopaedics, general elderly medicine and neuromusculoskeletal out-patients.

She became interested in the treatment of hand conditions whilst working at Chesterfield Royal Hospital and then went on to specialise in Hand Therapy in 2008 when she took up a hand therapy position at the Pulvertaft Hand Centre in Derby.

Emma has gained a wealth of experience treating patients in all aspects of hand therapy and can provide immediate exercise and splintage for patients following acute traumatic injuries or after having elective surgery.

She can also provide advice and treatment for people experiencing more long term conditions such as arthritis, carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome, wrist pain and de-quervains.

Emma is a member of the British Association of Hand Therapists and has recently gained accreditation.
www.hand-therapy.co.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

Where?
Emma is based at our Pride Park clinic in Derby

Clinic times
Monday 3pm – 7pm

(Other appointment times available by arrangement. Call 0115 972 1319)

Before your first appointment
We will discuss your treatment needs by phone/email prior to your first appt to help decide how long is required.

We will only take as long as necessary in order to keep costs to a minimum.

Initial Assessment & Treatment
The first appointment allows time for a complete treatment plan to be formulated and a splint to be made if necessary (charged separately)

30 minute assessment – £45
60 minutes – £90
45 minutes – £65

Follow up treatments

60 mins – £70
45 mins – £55
30 minutes – £45

Other charges (e.g. splints)
Splints are not required by everyone, if you do require a splint for your treatment, we will advise on the most cost effective option for you. If something can be bought off the shelf this is our preference, however if something needs to be custom made then you will be charged solely for the materials used. This will be discussed with you prior to agreement.

More Details

Hand therapy services available

Assessment (Hand, Wrist and elbow)
Splinting – Issue prefabricated, Remould splints, Fabricate splints
Exercise program
Strengthening program
Mobilisations
Scar management
Sensory re-education
Desensitisation program
Management of swelling in the hand
Pain management
Post operative care
Ultrasound
Measurement and recommendation for Pressure garments

Pathologies often treated by a Hand Therapist

Trauma
Multi-trauma – (Acute as well as later rehab)
Tendon injuries
Fractures (ORIF and stable)
Nerve injuries
Soft tissue injuries
Finger tip injuries
Crush injuries
Brachial plexus injuries

Elective Surgery

Dupuytren’s (Needle aponeurotomy, Fasciectomy, Dermofasciectomy)
Nerve grafts
Scar refashioning
Tendon Transfer
Joint fusion
Trapeziectomy
Thoracic outlet release (Via Mr Bainbridge referral)

Other Pathology identification, management and advice

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Trigger finger
De Quervains
Osteoarthritis
Wrist instability
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Radial Tunnel Syndrome
Tennis Elbow
Golfers Elbow
Pain syndromes