Hand and wrist injuries include fractures, sprains, tendon and ligament injuries, pinched nerves (carpal tunnel and others), arthritis, and recovery after surgery. Hand therapy combines hands-on care, splinting when appropriate, and gradual strengthening to bring back precise, confident use.
Focused Hand & Wrist Care in Bozeman
Your hands do everything — work, parenting, climbing, skiing, ranching, writing, eating. When one’s injured, a generic exercise program won’t bring back the precise use daily life needs. At Root Therapy and Wellness in Bozeman, hand therapy is delivered by an occupational therapist with more than 10 years of hand and upper-extremity experience — in full 1-on-1 sessions, with splinting when it’s appropriate.
We treat fractures, tendon and ligament injuries, recovery after surgery, arthritis, and the local injuries we see a lot — skier’s thumb, climbing finger injuries, and falls — working closely with hand surgeons across Bozeman Health, OrthoMontana, and out-of-state centers.
Common Hand & Wrist Injuries
Fractures — wrist and finger fractures, common from skiing falls, mountain biking, and trades work.
Tendon and ligament injuries — skier’s thumb, mallet finger, climbing finger injuries, trigger finger, and tendon pain on the thumb side of the wrist.
Pinched nerves — see our Carpal Tunnel page; we also treat other pinched nerves in the arm.
Arthritis — thumb-base arthritis and arthritis throughout the hand. A splint and joint-protection habits often cut pain a lot and protect function.
Recovery after surgery — carpal tunnel release, trigger finger release, fracture repair, tendon repair, and joint surgery.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
- Comprehensive evaluation (60 minutes) — your history, motion, grip and pinch strength, dexterity, feeling, swelling, and whether a splint would help.
- Splinting when appropriate — fitted for your specific injury and hand.
- Hands-on treatment that same visit.
- Home program — exercises, swelling management, and scar care.
- Coordination with your surgeon for post-surgical cases, and re-assessment every few visits.
Next Step: Schedule Your Evaluation Today
Hand and wrist injuries respond best to early, focused care. Request an appointment today — most patients are seen within the same week.
Our Treatment Approach
- Splinting When Appropriate — Splints and braces to protect a fracture, guard a repair after surgery, support a sprained ligament, or ease arthritis — used when they're the right tool.
- Manual Therapy — Hands-on work for the wrist and finger joints, soft-tissue release, and scar mobility.
- Hand Therapy — Gradual motion, dexterity, and strengthening matched to your injury and where it is in healing.
- Swelling Management — Gentle techniques, light compression, and elevation to settle post-injury or post-surgical swelling.
- Sensory Retraining — For nerve injury or changes in feeling after surgery — gentle retraining to rebuild sensation.
- Everyday & Work Strategies — Tools, changes, and tips for work, home, and the activities you enjoy.