Every year, Hand Therapy Week shines a spotlight on the vital role hand therapists play in rehabilitation, recovery, and injury prevention. This week, we're focusing on a critical yet often overlooked topic: workplace hand injuries.
Your hands, our expertise!
Our hands are essential tools in nearly every job—from construction and manufacturing to healthcare, food service, and office work. Did you know that work related hand and wrist injuries account for 38% of all work related hospitalisations in Australia. They are the most common work-related injury type and result in about 8400 admissions to hospital per year.
Overuse injuries to the hand, wrist and elbow account for around 9% of all work related musculoskeletal disorders.
Some of the most common hand-related workplace injuries include:
✅ Lacerations and cuts from tools or machinery including finger amputation
✅ Fractures due to falls or crushing accident
✅ Tendon or nerve injuries
✅ Burns or chemical exposure
✅ Occupational overuse injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis
Prevention of injury is the best cure
It is essential to ensure that safety features, such as machine guards, emergency stop buttons and interlocks are in place and functioning correctly, equipment ergonomic features are included into workstations and tool designs. And that workers should wear appropriate PPE, such as cut-resistant, impact-resistant, or puncture-resistant gloves based on the specific tasks and potential hazards involved. Any hazards should be reported early before they cause an injury
If you are unlucky enough to have sustained a hand injury, our Hand Therapy team have unique skills and knowledge to help you return to function. This includes understanding your injury, knowledge of healing time frames, and the skills to assess and develop customised treatment plans that may include:
Custom made splints to protect the injured area
Swelling and scar management
Specific exercise programs to restore range of motion and strength
Pain management techniques
Education to prevent future injuries
RECENT EXPANSION OF OUR HAND THERAPY SERVICE
MEET THE TEAM
We have 3 Certified Hand Physiotherapists Jen Woodward - Accredited AHTA Fran Black - Accredited AHTA Adam Knapek - Certified Paul Tho - Undertaking Hand Accreditation process - receiving 1:1 mentoring
