Tel: 035 789 6056
Cell: 082 791 5715
Email: admin@richtertherapy.co.za
Physical: Unit 7, Calypso Centre, 2 Kruger Rand Road, Richards Bay, 3900
Tel: 012 003 1755
Cell: 082 791 5715
Email: admin@richtertherapy.co.za
Physical: Sunwood Park, Block 5B GF, 379 Queens Crescent, Lynwood, 0081
Hand therapy is the rehabilitation of upper extremity injuries and/or persistent problems. It includes treatment before and after an operation to the fingers, hand, wrist or elbow.
Condition commonly treated by a hand therapist:
Fractures of the fingers, wrist or elbow. Arthritis of the hand, carpal tunnel disease, nerve injuries, tennis or golfers elbow, burns, ganglions excisions, abscesses, tendon lacerations, skin lesions on the hand or forearm, swollen and painful hands.
How is hand therapy performed?
Various treatment modalities like splinting, massaging, stretching and exercises are used to ensure that a patient can return to his or her work and/or hobbies.
Who can attend hand therapy?
You do not need a referral from a doctor to attend hand therapy. If you have any problems with pain, deformities or disability regarding your fingers, hands, wrist or elbow you can contact us directly for an appointment.
If you are booked for an elective surgery on your hand, the surgeon might refer you to us for post-op care. We will also be involved in the rehabilitation if you had an accident and sustained an injury to your hand at work or at home.
Burns management includes the rehabilitation of individuals who have sustained burns to the skin. Our goal is to support patients in maintaining their independence both during their hospital stay and after they return home.
A key part of therapy focuses on ensuring that you can use your hands effectively and that all your joints remain mobile. We work to prevent contractures and help you regain the ability to do the activities you love most.
Scar management is also a vital part of our treatment. To help your scars heal flat and evenly, we provide custom-fitted pressure garments as part of your rehabilitation plan.
How is the burns therapy performed?
Therapy starts as soon as the burns patient is referred in hospital. It includes splinting and mobilising in theatre, mobilising within the ward, and improving function whilst in Hospital. It includes measuring, fabricating and issuing pressure garments to assist with scar management of affected areas.
We then continue therapy once discharged from hospital to allow for the best healing and rehabilitation of the skin and movement, through pressure garments, silicone gel, massage and specific home exercise programs.
Who can benefit from burns therapy management?
Any individuals that have sustained a burn injury, including but not limited to hot water burns, oil burns, chemical burns, electrical burns, etc.
Work is one the most prominent roles we fulfil and takes up the majority of our day. Injury on duties can range from a laceration to the part of the body to fractures and includes any injury that is sustained at work and limits you to get back to normal duties. The occupational therapist (OT) is not limited to the type of injury – if it impacts the ability to perform daily tasks – the OT may be called in for acute or chronic management.
The OT is often involved in your case from admission to hospital or casualty until maximal improvement is gained.
We are involved with wound care, splinting, work hardening, preparing to go back to work as well as we hold monthly IOD groups to improve insight into the role players and responsibilities involved throughout the process.
Who can attend treatment after an Injury on duty?
Anyone who has sustained an injury on duty that needs assistance with regaining functional use of the injured body part. Usually, they are referred from the doctor, however if you are wondering if you need to be seen by an OT please ask!
Richter Therapy claims directly from the Compensation Fund (CF) Department of Labour, Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) or The Federated Employers Mutual Assurance (FEM).
Short Return to Work Assessments
This type of assessment is aimed to review a specific diagnosis and how it impacts the person’s ability to work. The assessment is limited to one diagnosis and two hours. A short report outlines the physical, cognitive or emotional capacity to meet job demands.
Functional Capacity Evaluations
In depth functional capacity evaluations are performed to determine the persons ability to perform his own, an accommodated or alternative job. Physical, cognitive and psychosocial components are assessed and matched to the job requirements. The assessment time ranges from two to three hours, and a comprehensive report and assessment results are sent to the referrer after ten working days. Standardises assessment used are the WorkWell FCE protocol, and various MODAPTS tests. A quote to perform an FCE is based on the diagnosis and invoices according to time spent on the assessment.
Job site assessments
On site assessments can be conducted to determine the job requirements (physical and cognitive demands) of a job.
Medico-legal Assessments
Leandi Daling (Richter) received special training in performance of high quality Independent Medical Evaluations by the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (ABIME). Apart from this prestigious certification she has over ten years of clinical experience in performing Functional Capacity Evaluations and independent assessments. Continued clinical exposure to the fields of hand therapy, physical rehabilitation and vocational rehabilitation with adults allows for better understanding and interpretation of disability on an individual’s ability to work and engage in activities of daily living. Assessments are performed on behalf of the plaintiff. Expert opinion after independent assessment is provided in report form within ten working days to inform the legal process regarding the impact of disability on a person’s functional capacity.
The practice has the following standardised assessment tools, ensuring that all assessments hold clinical value and provide reliable and valid results:
Work rehabilitation closely links with hand therapy and physical rehabilitation. It bridges acute rehabilitation with preparation of physical abilities required to perform specific work demands.
Work hardening
Continuation of care, to ensure that a patient can return to his previous occupation, is facilitated through scientific analysis of the job requirements and the persons overall functioning. Work rehabilitation prepares patients to endure a full working day after being on sick leave, and allows them to tolerate intensive physical work after illness or surgery. At Richter Therapy we have a work hardening centre, where patients are exposed to simulated work tasks to ensure they are fit for work.
Case management
Work rehabilitation does not only address a client’s tolerance to perform physical and other work demands, but can also include interaction with the workplace. A team approach to successfully re-integrate an employee to work is followed. Case management ensures that a patient follows a scientific programme to address physical, psychosocial and emotional problems that prevents them from going back to work.
The Progressive Goal Attainment Programme (PGAP)
The Progressive Goal Attainment Program is an intervention that has been developed to target psychosocial risk factors for delayed recovery. PGAP has been shown to reduce psychosocial risk factors and promote successful return-to-work in individuals suffering from a wide range of debilitating health or mental health conditions. PGAP has been included in the 13th Edition of the Official Disability Guidelines as an evidenced-based intervention for work-disability. For more information please click here.
Chronic Pain Management
Patients who presents with persistent pain after acute management of a condition will benefit from occupational therapy. An holistic approach is followed where the following aspects are addressed: education regarding pain physiology, coping mechanisms, group work, relaxation therapy etc. This is a comprehensive programme where the focus shifts from ‘pain’ to ‘functionality’.
Downloads
