Hand Therapy

Our hand therapy team at Bundaberg Occupational Therapy are leaders in the Wide Bay area for the treatment of hand and upper limb injuries.  We receive referrals from local services (Surgeons, GPs and Physios), as well as Upper Limb Surgeons in Brisbane and the greater QLD area.  Our therapy team provide therapy based on  up to date research and evidence obtained from National Conferences and specialised courses.  Our therapists liaise with other treating health care professionals as needed to assist with diagnosis, treatment and return to work/sport goals.  

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Hand and Upper Limb Rehabilitation
Our therapists treat all hand and upper limb injuries including fractures, ligament injuries, tendon injuries, carpal tunnel, trigger finger, tennis elbow, crush injuries and overuse injuries.  Treatment may also be required due to arthritis, auto-immune and neurological disorders. 
Treatment may include:
- Diagnosis and detailed testing of hand and upper limb pathology
- Therapeutic exercise - to improve movement, balance, strength and stability
- Custom made thermoplastic splints (static and dynamic)
- Custom made lycra, neoprene and leather splints
- Treatment following surgery to the hand or arm
- Wound care including dressing changes and removal of stitches
- Use of compression bandaging and massage to control swelling
- Desensitization and sensory retraining after a nerve injury
- Use of taping, strapping and braces
- Education to protect joints from further injury
- Upper limb casting post botox injections

Scar management
Post surgery or burn scars can often heal with a raised, thick, sensitive or bumpy scar.  Our therapists have numerous treatment techniques to help your scar mature soft and flat.  We are happy to assess, treat and provide information on scars anywhere on the body, not just the upper limb.

Inpatient Services
You may be seen by a Bundaberg Occupational Therapy therapist as part of your inpatient care following an injury or surgery. Our therapists visit both the Friendlies Private Hospital and the Mater Private Hospital providing specialised hand and upper limb treatment. Hospital inpatient therapy will usually be arranged by your treating specialist or surgeon as necessary.

Office Ergonomic Audits
Workers in offices often think they are immune to injuries due to the light nature of their work.  However, these workers are often at risk of occupational overuse injuries, an umbrella term for a range of diagnosis such as tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and nerve impingements.  These injuries are cumulative in nature but usually give the worker a range of symptoms before it becomes debilitating.  Correct set up of the office environment, regular breaks and stretches can reduce the risk of these injuries. Bundaberg Occupational Therapy is able to assist workers in these areas, providing solutions to these and other problems of this nature.

Return to Work and Injury Management
Our therapists are experienced in assisting injured employees in returning to the workplace.  We understand that after an injury, you may not be able to return to your previous work straight away, therefore you may require support and guidance to return to work gradually.  If required we can assess your ability to push, pull, lift, move, grasp or perform any other movement you need to return to the workplace post upper limb injury.  We can liaise with your specialist/GP or workplace to help organise a graduated return to work plan and assistive equipment if required. 
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