Hand Rehabilitation

What Is Hand Therapy?

Hand therapy uses a variety of techniques to prevent and treat pain in the upper extremities, which include your:

• Arms
• Elbows
• Fingers
• Hands
• Shoulders
• Wrists

Hand Rehabilitation and Therapy with Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital: Why Choose Us?

You receive care from dedicated physical and occupational therapists, some with decades of experience. Many of our specialists are certified hand therapists who have advanced knowledge in treating upper extremity and hand pain and injuries. All therapists tailor services to help you achieve your goals. Highlights of our program include: 

• Dedicated center: Your care may start at the Hand Rehabilitation Center on  Albany Memorial Campus. This unique outpatient program is where we treat some of the region’s most complex upper extremity issues. You receive services in a caring and compassionate environment, including private therapy rooms, when necessary. 
• Broad range of services: You have access to the latest treatments, including custom orthoses and splints, as well as tried and true options, like manual therapy. Patients come to us with a variety of upper extremity concerns, including chronic hand pain and injuries from repetitive motions, like typing. Read more about the conditions we treat. 
• Easy access: We typically see new patients within three business days. We work closely with referring providers, so you receive therapies that meet your needs. If you are having a procedure, like a pain injection, we may see you immediately afterward. 
• Convenience: Ongoing hand therapy is available in clinics throughout the Capital Region. Our clinics offer early morning and evening appointments, enabling you to fit hand therapy into your busy schedule. Find out more about physical medicine and outpatient rehabilitation.

Our Hand Therapy Specialties 

After getting a prescription from your doctor, we develop a customized hand therapy plan to meet your needs. From building strength and flexibility to protecting delicate areas, we deliver comprehensive care that brings lasting hand pain relief.

Specialized hand rehabilitation services that draw patients from across the Capital Region include:

• Custom orthoses or splints: An orthotic or splint is a wearable device that holds your hand, arm or fingers in a specific position to aid healing. Custom orthoses fit the unique shape of your body, protecting certain areas or enabling them to move a particular way. Your doctor provides a prescription with detailed instructions for customizing the orthosis.
• Severe injury and surgery rehabilitation: We get your recovery off to a great start with services that include wound management and gentle therapies. If you feel self-conscious about your hand’s appearance, you receive care in a private therapy room. 

Other Hand Therapy Services

Some of the additional hand therapy services we offer include:

Joint protection

Manual therapy

Nerve and tendon gliding exercises

When you move your hands and wrists, the nerves and tendons glide along a thin layer of tissue, enabling smooth motion. Scar tissue from surgery and injuries can prevent these fibers from gliding, making it difficult to bend the affected area. We lead you through exercises that make it possible for the nerves and tendons to glide again.

Sensory education and desensitization