The clinic specialises in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic conditions affecting the hand, wrist and elbow. Friendly, caring and professional treatment is provided by experienced hand therapists, who participate in regular professional development to deliver up-to-date, evidence-based practice.
All treatments are one-on-one, with the treating therapist tailoring an individualised treatment program aimed at assisting the patient to regain their full potential as quickly as possible.
Diagnosis
Hand therapists are trained in clinical assessment of the upper limb. We combine in-depth knowledge of hand anatomy with a thorough history of your injury to ensure correct diagnosis of your problem.
Many injuries such ligament tears and tendon problems cannot be identified on plain x-ray. Your hand therapist will perform clinical diagnostic tests to gain more information about your problem and in some instances may recommend further diagnostic imaging be arranged through your GP, to ensure appropriate treatment.
Hand Therapists at Bayside have extensive experience in treating traumatic injuries such as tendon lacerations, fractures and dislocations, diseases such as arthritis and Dupuytren’s contracture and overuse conditions including nerve compressions, tendinitis and trigger finger.
Treatment
Your therapist will use information gained from clinical assessment to tailor each treatment session specifically to the changing needs of your injury or pathology.
Hand therapy treatment may include:
- Exercises to prevent or overcome stiffness
- Strengthening of target muscles
- Wound care including dressing changes and removing stitches
- Manufacturing splints to protect injured structures or restore motion to stiff joints
- Scar management to soften, flatten and desensitise scars
- Reduction of swelling including pressure garments
- Proprioceptive and neuromuscular training
- Electrical modalities to reduce pain and inflammation
- Sport specific training programs
- Functional re-training
- Sensory re-education
Where appropriate a home exercise program is provided to ensure continued improvement between sessions, and encourage a client-centred active approach to therapy.
Splints/Orthoses
Our team are highly skilled in manufacturing orthoses/splints. Splints are custom-made on the spot, using materials and designs to meet a specific need.
They are light weight and are usually removable to allow for wound checks, cleaning and where appropriate, specific exercises.
Splints are usually made to protect healing structures such as a broken bone, torn ligament or skin graft.
Splints may also be used to restore movement to stiff joints, and to support a painful joint to improve hand use in conditions such as arthritis.
Waterproof Casts
For certain fractures and ligament injuries, where complete immobilization is needed, we can fabricate waterproof casts which allow showering and swimming with the cast on.
Click on the link below for more information on what to expect with a waterproof cast.
Post-operative care
Our therapists have all worked closely with leading Upper Limb surgeons and are therefore familiar with the rehabilitation protocols hand surgeons prefer.
We have an understanding of surgical procedures so that we can tailor a post-operative treatment program appropriate to the surgery.
Recovering from upper limb surgery is enhanced at Bayside Hand Therapy because we-
- Understand that you may initially feel unwell, anxious and have pain, so we educate you about the post-operative recovery, provide pain treatment and loads of re-assurance and encouragement!
- Perform all post-operative treatment including wound care, removal of stitches/sutures, swelling control, exercises, splints and pain management.
- Know the surgeon’s expectations and if we are concerned, we can communicate directly with your surgeon.
- Care about you getting the best outcome and will do all that we can to get you better in the shortest possible time-frame
Pain Management
Our therapists use a range of modalities to deal with both acute and chronic pain.
We encourage a multidisciplinary approach and will liaise closely with your doctor and allied health team.
We incorporate many resources and processes developed by the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute, including Graded Motor Imagery, Mirror Therapy and the Recognise App. Our therapists are also trained in the use of InterX Neurostimulation, an effective, non-invasive and drug free treatment for pain.
Talk to your therapist to find out more.
Scar Management
Treatment for problem scars following hand surgery.
Following hand surgery, scars may occasionally become thick, raised, abnormally sensitive or restrict movement. At Bayside Hand Therapy we have a variety of treatments for problem scars including silicone products, massage techniques, therapeutic ultrasound, taping, compression garments and desensitisation techniques.
Children’s Handwriting Problems
We can provide assistance and training to help your child master handwriting.
Children may have difficulty mastering the mechanics of handwriting for a number of reasons including joint hypermobility, weakness, poor posture, late development of hand preference, perceptual problems, lack of fine motor control. The speed, legibility and quality of written work may suffer, and there may be excessive effort involved in writing at the expense of content. Secondary problems may include avoidance of written work, disruptive behaviour, reduced self-esteem, and effects on other areas of academic learning, such as spelling and story writing.
After evaluating your child’s handwriting we use a variety of techniques depending on what the cause of the problem is. Some examples of therapy treatments include.
- Activities to improve strength and fine motor co-ordination
- Trial of modified pencils, pen grips and writing aides to encourage better pencil grasp.
- Structured writing practice
- Gross motor activities
- Individualised home program tailored to the needs of the child
- Fabrication of splints to support unstable or painful joints.
Conditions Treated
Bayside Hand Therapy is able to treat the following conditions:
- Fractures of the hand and arm
- Sprains, strains and dislocations
- Arthritis
- Over-use and cumulative disorders including carpal tunnel, trigger finger, tendinitis, de Quervain’s, tennis and golfers elbow
- All post – surgical patients including tendon and nerve repairs, amputations and joint replacements
- Sports injuries
- Post-traumatic stiffness
- Pain syndromes
- Musicians hand injuries
- Neurological conditions affecting the hand such as stroke and brain injury
- Childrens hand-writing difficulties
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