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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 5pm

Specialised Hand Therapy Services

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Australia
Perth, WA
Specialised Hand Therapy Services

We are a group of Occupational Therapists who all have expertise in the treatment and rehabilitation of the hand and upper limb.

04/06/2025

It's Hand Therapy Week! 👐

Join us as we celebrate our brilliant hand therapists this week, from 2nd-8th June.

Hand therapists specialise in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of hand and upper limb injuries and conditions. We work with you to achieve your goals of returning to everyday activities that are important to you.

30/05/2025

Customised functional splinting can be accomplished in hand therapy.

Here we have a custom made splint designed for a client who has had a traumatic injury to his hand.

At this stage, ongoing pain and instability at the DIP joint (end joint) of his finger have made it difficult for him to grip a pen firmly. This custom made splint by one of our therapists allows him to write again until he is able to manage more independently.

17/03/2025

Hand therapy often requires creativity to develop customised splints for patients, particularly when they present with multiple injuries or conditions.

This is a radial gutter thumb post design we use at Specialised Hand Therapy Services for a range of conditions, including first dorsal interossei injury and repair, SRN injury/irritation, or injuries involving both the index finger and thumb MCP joints.

20/01/2025

This patient sustained a right thumb tip amputation injury and subsequently underwent repair with a Venkataswami flap to cover the defect. As a manual worker, he struggled with skin tears on return to functional use of his hand at work. To solve this issue, our therapists fabricated a unique, fitted version of a leather stall to help protect the flap tissue whilst allowing him motion of his thumb.

The hybrid leather/lycra stall consisted of lycra to the dorsal surface, and leather to cover the volar flap. The design eliminated risky strings around the wrist that could get caught, as well as unnecessary bulk that you usually find with traditional leather stalls. After several months of therapy, he made an excellent functional recovery and eventually weaned from wearing the leather/lycra stall at work.

25/11/2024

What is Carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome refers to the compression and/or irritation of the median nerve at the wrist as it passes through the carpal tunnel. The median nerve provides sensation over the palm of the hand and along the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger.

Symptoms may include pain, pins and needles, numbness, tingling and burning sensation. Carpal tunnel can also result in loss of muscle bulk in the thumb and weakness in the hand.

Treatment options can include activity modification, night splinting and median nerve sliding exercises. If symptoms do not respond to conservative management or nerve compression is severe, a surgical review is recommended.

23/08/2024

Volar plate injuries at the PIP joint

With the winter sports season well underway, many volar plate injuries present to our clinics. What is a volar plate and how do we treat them conservatively?

The volar plate is a thick fibrocartilaginous structure that reinforces the palmar surface of the finger joints and prevents hyperextension. Injury to the volar plate can present as a partial or full tear, with or without an avulsion fracture. They often occur at the PIP joint when the joint is hyperextended (E.g while marking a football or catching a basketball).

The course of treatment will depend on the severity of the volar plate injury or avulsion fracture. Conservative treatment can involve finger-based splinting or lycra buddy supports, along with protected range of motion exercises. A surgical review may also be warranted if the joint is subluxed or unstable.

08/07/2024

The First Dorsal Interossei Muscle in Thumb Stability

The first dorsal interossei (FDI) originates from the ulnar base of the thumb metacarpal and radial side of the index finger metacarpal (as pictured). It inserts on the radial side of the index finger proximal phalanx with its primary action being to abduct the index finger (take it out to the thumb side).

Patients with base of thumb (first CMC joint) arthritis often present with subluxation of the basal thumb (CMC) joint from wear and tear/loading over time. Radiographic evidence shows that activation of the first dorsal interossei can reduce thumb CMC joint subluxation. Strengthening FDI is one of the exercises we prescribe to treat base of thumb arthritis conservatively. This exercise is designed to assist in restoring joint stability.

$This is a 34 year old male station hand who sustained a comminuted P1 fracture requiring K-wire fixation. Unfortunately ...$

08/05/2024

This is a 34 year old male station hand who sustained a comminuted P1 fracture requiring K-wire fixation. Unfortunately his K-wires were infected and had to be removed 3 weeks later, at which point he was placed in a traction splint. Unfortunately, his fracture was still not united a month later. The surgeon decided to perform an ORIF with plates and screws.

It was noted at this time that the RCL of his PIPJ was also ruptured, which the surgeon repaired (10 weeks post initial injury). Swabs were taken and a bone infection was detected hence the reason for non-union. Whilst on very strong IV antibiotics, we commenced hand therapy, as at this stage his MCPJ and PIPJs were very stiff in both extension and flexion.

We commenced mobilisation splinting at 4 weeks post ORIF, which the surgeon allowed. These are some of the splints we used to regain ROM.

09/02/2024

Lateral elbow tendinopathy (also known as Tennis Elbow) is one of the most common upper extremity injuries. It affects the common extensor tendon at its point of origin on the lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

Lateral elbow tendinopathy affects 1-3% of the general population, affecting males and females equally and seen most frequently in 40-60 year olds.

It is characterised by an overuse or force overload injury. Symptoms are exacerbated by resisted wrist extension, particularly with the elbow fully extended, which places the muscle on maximum stretch.

Conservative management is aimed at reducing pain and restoration of tendon length. Depending on patient presentation, treatment may include activity modification, splinting and a gentle progressive strengthening program.

18/01/2024

Welcome to our Armadale clinic, located conveniently near Armadale train station with free parking available. Our Armadale clinic services the South Eastern suburbs of Perth.

Our friendly Armadale team are skilled in upper limb treatment from fabrication of splints, rehabilitation post injury to treatment of chronic conditions.

We would love to partner with you in your journey to recovery.

Address

Perth, WA

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61893242881

Website

http://www.specialisedhandtherapy.com.au/

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