Occupational Therapy for Hand, Wrist & Elbow Recovery
Recovery Doesn't End When Treatment Does
Whether you're healing from surgery, recovering from an injury, or working to regain strength and mobility after an arthritis flare, the work of getting your hand, wrist, or elbow fully back often happens in therapy, not just in the exam room.
The Hand Clinic of Tri-Cities offers occupational therapy on-site, so your recovery plan is built and adjusted by a team that already knows your case, not a separate provider starting from scratch.
Why In-House Occupational Therapy Matters
When surgery or treatment happens in one place and recovery happens somewhere else, small things get lost. Your therapist does not see your surgical notes, your surgeon does not see how your sessions are actually going, and you are the one relaying information back and forth.
Having occupational therapy inside the same clinic means:
Your surgeon and therapist can coordinate directly, without you as the go-between
Your therapy plan is built around your specific procedure or diagnosis, not a generic protocol
Fewer appointments, fewer new intake forms, fewer new faces to explain your history to
Adjustments to your recovery plan happen quickly, based on how you're actually healing
Who Occupational Therapy Can Help
Occupational therapy supports recovery for a wide range of hand, wrist, and elbow conditions:
Post-surgical recovery (including after TOUCH™ Thumb Joint Replacement)
Fractures and traumatic injuries
Tendon and ligament injuries
Carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome
Hand and wrist arthritis
Trigger finger
Work-related hand, wrist and elbow injuries
Sports injuries
Pediatric hand, wrist, and elbow conditions
Not every condition requires surgery first. Occupational therapy is also used as a nonsurgical treatment option on its own, often alongside splinting, bracing, or injections.
What to Expect in a Session
Every therapy plan starts with your specific diagnosis and goals, not a one-size-fits-all routine.
Depending on your condition, sessions may include:
Custom splinting and bracing
Exercises to rebuild strength, flexibility, and range of motion
Scar management and swelling reduction after surgery
Retraining for daily living skills such as getting dressed, cooking, typing, and driving
Guidance on returning safely to work, sports, or hobbies
Your therapist works directly with Dr. Vadala throughout your recovery, adjusting your plan as you progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Depends on your insurance. Our staff and authorization specialists will help determine this for you.
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Many patients do, especially after procedures like TOUCH™ Thumb Joint Replacement or other hand and wrist surgeries. Dr. Vadala will let you know if therapy is recommended for your specific case.
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Yes. Occupational therapy is often used as a nonsurgical treatment on its own, or alongside splinting, bracing, or injections.
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This varies by condition and procedure. Your therapist will build a plan specific to your recovery and adjust it as you progress.
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Coverage varies by plan. Our team can help you understand what's covered before you begin.
Recovery is a Team Effort.
Getting back to full strength and function takes more than a successful procedure - it takes a recovery plan built specifically for you, by people who already know your case.
Schedule an appointment to learn whether occupational therapy is part of the right plan for your hand, wrist, or elbow recovery.