Musculodkeletal & Orthopedic Rehabilitation

Hand & Arm Rehabilitation

You may use your hands more than any other part of your body to get through each day. At NewYork-Presbyterian, we understand that when your hands are limited by pain or injury, your quality of life suffers, too. We offer hand and arm therapy for people of all ages to improve function and comfort. We'll work with you to maximize your ability to perform the activities you desire at home and at work.

An experienced team

Your therapy is coordinated by a physiatrist (rehabilitation medicine physician) or orthopedic surgeon, depending on the reason you need hand therapy. We have expert occupational and physical therapists who are certified by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission. This certification ensures that you are receiving care from someone with dedicated training in the rehabilitation of hand and arm injuries and disorders.

We treat all types of hand and arm disorders

We offer specialized treatment for a wide range of hand and arm injuries and chronic disorders, including:

• Arthritis
• Burns
• Congenital deformities (birth defects)
• Fractures
• Nerve injuries
• Repetitive strain injuries
• Tendon injuries
• Tendonitis

All the care you need

Our doctors and therapists evaluate your range of motion, strength, function, sensation, and coordination in your hand and arm, and assess any swelling, pain, wounds, and scars. Your treatment may include exercise, manual ("hands-on") therapy, functional training, splinting, casting, management of scars, electrical and thermal (heat and cold) therapies, and conditioning to help you return to work ("work hardening").

Advanced equipment to help you heal

We use state-of-the-art hand therapy equipment—including the Biometrics E4000 Upper Limb Exerciser, the Valpar Series 4 and 9, and the Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment—to restore and maximize your strength and function.

A helping hand for stroke survivors

Our rehabilitation medicine specialists are collaborating with Columbia University engineers to develop and evaluate "MyHand," a robotic assistive device worn over the hand and forearm which can help stroke survivors regain grasping ability in an affected hand. The goal is to enable patients to continue meaningful exercises outside the hospital as they transition to a productive life at home after a stroke.