Hand therapy services

Wound Management

Wound Management

What is wound management?

When you have a wound from a surgery, laceration, or infection it needs special attention to recover. Most wounds recover in the repair phase of healing, which is approximately three weeks. Our therapists (physiotherapists) look after your wounds by providing dressings that are applied with a sterile technique to avoid infection. The wounds are cleaned with sterile saline solution and special swabs. Old dressings are removed to maintain healing. Any stubborn dressing that may be stuck to the wound is carefully removed with soaking to prevent pain and keep the wound intact.

At The Hands Physio we use Mepital – a silicon dressing that doesn’t stick to the wound and promotes wound healing. We have other specialised dressings to use if your wound requires them. The dressing is then completed with a product to minimise swelling and promote blood flow.  This will either be handy gauze, Coban and or a Tub-grip. We like to monitor wounds every second to third day.

Once there is initial closure of the wounds our therapists recommend the use of a silicon product to minimise adverse scar formation. Therapeutic scar massage is also provided to ensure supple, malleable scar results.

What conditions does it treat?

  • Post Op Surgeries of Hand/Wrist/Arm/Shoulder
  • Carpal Tunnel Repair
  • DeQuervains Repair
  • Trigger Finger Repair
  • Tendon Repairs
  • Dislocations
  • Fractures
  • Ligament Repairs
  • Grafts
  • Burns

Our approach

Our strength is in Diagnosis, Education and Custom Treatment Programs.

Every individual is assessed thoroughly and given an accurate diagnosis from their history and initial presentation of symptoms.  Progress is re-assessed around three weeks to confirm diagnosis. If an injury is not tracking as expected from normal tissue healing time frames and there are no reasons for lack of progress, consultation with the team happens to check diagnosis and progress is accurate.  

Injuries are explained in detail to each patient.  Diagrams are drawn and photos of conditions are given.  Patients are encouraged to ask questions, so they are fully informed of their condition or injury.  Expectations like when to return to work, sport, music, and driving are given.  Our therapists come alongside the patient to develop individual treatment programs, set up in conjunction with the patients’ goals and expectations.  

Every patient contributes to their treatment program and what they are able to do, so they are actively involved in their rehabilitation. 

Other shoulder, arm and hand therapy methods

Pain Management

Acute pain is when the body is working to heal structural tissue damage. Everything is done to ensure structural and mechanical integrity if maximised of the injured tissues.

Mobilisation of Joints

Joint mobilisation involves moving the joint back and forth in small oscillating movements further and further into range to restore the joints normal movement.

Customisation of Splints/Orthosis

The body naturally goes through a process to heal injuries, however if not supported to enable rest the injury can continue to happening and it takes a much longer time to heal.

Exercise Prescription

Exercise is the body’s natural way of restoration to improve stability, mechanics, strength and movement to an injury. Whether the injury is from overuse, trauma, disease or surgery exercises are necessary to restore function.

Stretches

Stretching is extremely beneficial for our joints, muscles and tendons. Not only do they help prepare your body work/exercises they ensure you are working at your optimum energy efficiency.

Therapeutic Massage

Massage helps to remove these chemicals by improving the blood supply to the injured area so healthy nutrients are supplied to the area so healing is faster.