Hand Therapy

The St. Elizabeth Healthcare Hand Therapy Center is the first and largest hospital-based hand therapy service in Northern Kentucky. Our goal is to maximize a person’s function for returning to work and daily life.

CALL NOW: (859) 301-5540

Visit a Hand Therapy Office

We offer highly specialized, comprehensive treatment for people of all ages suffering from a variety of problems affecting the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, and shoulder. We treat many diagnoses including arthritis, trauma, work injury, sports injury, amputations, wounds, burns, fractures, tendon injury, nerve injury, and pain.

Our Team

Hand therapy is provided by Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists with comprehensive training and knowledge of the upper extremity. Many of our therapists have completed advanced training and obtained board certification in hand therapy by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission. Our therapists are highly skilled at evaluating your needs and level of functioning. Treatment includes customized splinting; range of motion exercise; strengthening; work simulation; electro and thermal modalities; wound care; and edema, pain and scar management. Patient education regarding splints, adaptive equipment and techniques and home exercise programs are a large part of our treatment protocol.

How to Seek Treatment

A physician’s referral is required before you can be seen at the Hand Therapy Center. We accept referrals from hand surgeons, family practice physicians, neurologists, business health physicians and many other fields of practice. Our office staff is available to assist you in understanding your particular insurance coverage. It is advised that you also check your individual policies to verify coverage and any requirements for pre-certification of services.

Common Causes of Hand Pain & Dysfunction: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Trigger Fingers

Carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger fingers are the two most common causes of hand and pain dysfunction. There are both nonoperative and operative interventions that can alleviate these conditions. OrthoCincy Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine expert, Dr. Jeffrey Wera and St. Elizabeth Healthcare certified hand therapist, Sandra Stephens discuss how these complaints can be addressed.

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Important Resources for Hand Therapy Patients

Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC) – Information about requirements to become a Certified Hand Therapist.
American Society of Hand Therapists (ASH) – General information about Hand Therapy, as well as available courses or availability of a Hand Therapist in a different city if traveling out of town.
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) – Information about Occupational Therapy as a profession and courses available.
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) – Information about Physical Therapy as a profession and courses available.
Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association (KOTA) – Information about Occupational Therapy in Kentucky and local courses available.
Kentucky Physical Therapy Association (KPTA) – Information about Physical Therapy in Kentucky and local courses available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hand Therapy?

Hand therapy is the rehabilitation of the upper quarter of the human body (primarily shoulder, elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand). Hand therapy is a merging of occupational therapy an physical therapy theory and practice that combines comprehensive knowledge of the upper extremity. Using specialized skills in assessment and reversal of the progression of injury or disease in order to enhance participation in life situations for individuals with upper extremity disease or injury.

What is the difference between Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy?

Occupational therapy primarily focuses on evaluating and improving a person’s functional abilities. An occupational therapist helps a person optimize their independence and ability to accomplish their daily activities following an injury or in situations of physical impairment. Occupational therapy improves life skills and may involve use or creation of adaptive tools or equipment. In some settings occupational therapists focus on the smaller joints of the body and fine motor skills along with patient’s activities of daily living.

Physical therapy is focused on treating a person’s injury itself and on helping to prevent injuries. The physical therapist will diagnose and treat the physical source of the problem; the injured tissues and structures. In some settings physical therapy focuses more on the larger joints of the body and helps the patient regain their ability to ambulate and maneuver.

Although the two healthcare professions have distinct differences in their focus, there can be crossover between OT and PT. Both occupational and physical therapists are trained extensively on anatomy and the musculoskeletal system and focus on education about the healing process and injury prevention. With insurance companies now focusing more on patient function, both OT and PT address functional issues in their treatment. In some settings like Hand Therapy both OTs and PTs do the exact same form of treatment for their patients.

What types of diagnoses and injuries does a Hand Therapist treat?

We treat many diagnoses including arthritis, trauma, work injury, sports injury, amputations, wounds, burns, fractures, tendon injury, nerve injury, open wounds, and pain in the upper extremity.

What types of treatments might be performed in Hand Therapy?

Treatments include customized splinting, range of motion exercise, strengthening, work simulation, electro and thermal modalities, wound care, and edema (swelling), pain, and scar management. Patient education regarding splints, adaptive equipment and techniques, and home exercise programs are a large part of our treatment protocol.

How can I be referred to the St. Elizabeth Hand Therapy Center?

A physician referral is required to receive Hand Therapy. Any physician can write a referral for treatment to our Hand Therapy Center; it does not have to be a Hand Surgeon or a St. Elizabeth Physician. Referrals can be either brought with you to your first appointment or faxed to our department at (859) 301-5555.

Where should I call to make an appointment and what information should I be able to answer over the phone?

You can reach us at (859) 301-5540. Please have your referral available if your doctor did not fax your referral to us. Also, have your insurance information on hand for any questions.

If I have a question about my Hand Therapy bill, what number should I call?

If you have questions regarding your Hand Therapy bill please call the St. Elizabeth billing department at (859) 655-4100.

Learn More about Hand Therapy

Call Us to Schedule a Visit

Please contact your physician to see if you are eligible for a referral or call (859) 301-5540.

Visit Our Locations

Hand Therapy Offices