What We Do

Diagnosis

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

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
• Advice on how to prevent re-injury/complications

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

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

Click on the link below for more information on what to expect with a waterproof cast.

Post-operative care

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

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

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

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.