Patient Education
At Texas Hand Therapy, we believe education is a big part of overall recovery. We want patients to be informed on the "what" and the "why" of their condition and the rehabilitation process. The Texas Hand Therapy team will work individually with each person to create a unique treatment plan and provide modifications, adjustments, and decisions accordingly and collaboratively with each person.
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The patient education section provides reliable resources for common conditions that are seen in the clinic and provides information on the "what" and "why" of the conditions and what occupational hand therapy can do for each condition. This section also includes splint care and hygiene along with therapeutic modalities and their purpose in the rehabilitative process.
Finger Conditions
Wrist Conditions
Hand Conditions
Elbow & Shoulder Conditions
Hand & Wrist Arthritis
Splint Care and Hygiene
How to care for your splint:
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​Clean your splint with soap and lukewarm water
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Wash the sock given to you for your hand/fingers by hand or in the washing machine and lay it out to dry
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When you remove your splint, do not place it near any heat source, such as the stove, radiator, or car on a hot day. The splint will change its shape if it is heated. ​​
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What to watch out for:
​Your splint was made especially for you and should be comfortable. Contact your therapist if you have any questions about your splint, or if any of the following happens:
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Your splint is not comfortable
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A red irritated area develops on your skin
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You have increased pain, swelling, tingling, or numbness in your hand or wrist
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If you feel your splint needs to be fixed
Therapeutic Modalities
Hot Packs & Paraffin Baths
The application of heat packs prior to treatment can help decrease pain and increse extensibilty of the joints, muscles, tendons, and scar tissue. Paraffin wax is often used in conjunction with hot packs to provde a deep heat to tissues before massage and stretching.
Fluidotherapy
Fluidotherapy is a dry heat modality that is used to help decrease stiffness, pain, and hypersensitivity. Exercises can be performed during this modality treatment and higher temperatures cna be tolerated by the patient.
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)
This is an electrical stimulation and the purpose is to stimulate muscles. NMES can be used to decrease muscle atrophy and assist in muscle re-education and reactivation after a surgery, trauma, or injury.
Cold Packs
The application of cold packs can help decrease swelling and pain and is effective in the acute stage of a healing injury when inflammation is a factor.
Interferential Current Therapy (IFC)
IFC is a form of electrical stimulation that is used for the symptomatic relief and management of chronic pain, acute post-surgical pain, and acute post-trauma pain. IFC provides a safe and effective alternative to pain control medications and the effects of IFC can last up to three days. IFC is a non-invasive high-frequency stimulation that releases endorphins to promote recovery while increasing blood circulation to the area to support the body's natural healing process. IFC helps decrease swelling and inflammation and reduce or eliminate pain.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to increase temperatures in deeper structures. This is often used to help reduce joint contractures, pain, swelling, and scar tissue.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
TENS uses non-invasive low-frequency electrical currents to stimulate the nerve endings at frequencies that help reduce pain. Electrodes are placed surrounding the painful area to block pain receptor signals from being sent to the brain.
