Hand therapy is specifically focused on the action of the hands. A therapist will use a combination of both physical therapy and occupational therapy when working with the hands. The aim is to increase the movement as well as range of motion in the hands. There are various things that this can help with including reducing swelling, managing open wounds and pain management.

As hand therapy is a very specific treatment it has very specific applications. There are a few conditions that could benefit significantly from hand therapy and they include arthritis where the patient will often experience restricted movement as well as chronic pain. It can also be good for repetitive strain injuries by teaching the patient to use their hands in different ways so reducing the pressure on certain areas and relieving pain.