Orthopedic Physical and Hand Therapy
Physical and hand therapy are essential components of orthopedic care. Whether used as a standalone treatment, part of injury recovery, preparation for surgery, or post-operative rehabilitation, therapy helps patients restore function, reduce pain, and return to the activities that matter most.
What is Orthopedic Physical Therapy?
Orthopedic physical therapy focuses on conditions affecting the muscles, joints, bones, ligaments, tendons and nerves. Treatment is designed to:
- Reduce pain and improve long-term function
- Restore mobility and range of motion
- Improve strength, stability and endurance
- Support recovery following injury or surgery
- Help patients safely return to work, sports, and daily activities
At OrthoNebraska, our therapists specialize exclusively in orthopedic care. This focused expertise allows us to provide highly targeted treatment plans based on the latest evidence and best practices in orthopedic rehabilitation.
Why Does Orthopedic Specialization Matter?
Specialized orthopedic training provides physical therapists with advanced knowledge of:
- Joint mechanics and movement patterns
- Orthopedic injuries and conditions
- Surgical procedures and rehabilitation protocols
- Activity-specific and sport-specific recovery strategies
This expertise helps therapists identify movement impairments, develop individualized treatment plans, and guide patients through each stage of recovery.
In addition to orthopedic specialization, many OrthoNebraska therapists have focused interests and advanced training in specific body regions, sports medicine, return-to-sport rehabilitation, manual therapy, and other specialty areas.
What Techniques are Used in Orthopedic Physical Therapy?
Every treatment plan is customized to the patient’s condition, goals, and lifestyle. Depending on your needs, therapy may include:
- Therapeutic exercise to improve strength, flexibility, and mobility
- Manual therapy to restore joint and soft tissue mobility and function
- Movement retraining to improve body mechanics and reduce stress on injured tissues
- Functional training for work, recreation, and daily activities
- Sport-specific rehabilitation and return-to-sport progression
- Home exercise programs to support continued progress between visits
Additional specialized services may include:
- dry needling, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill training, Postural Restoration®, custom exercise technologies, and other advanced treatment approaches when clinically appropriate.
How is Therapy Work with My Surgeon?
One of the advantages of receiving care at OrthoNebraska is the close collaboration between physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, and other healthcare providers.
This integrated approach allows for:
- Rehabilitation plans to align with surgical protocols and physician recommendations
- Ongoing communication regarding patient progress
- Timely adjustments to treatment when needed
- Coordinated care throughout the entire recovery process
While patients are always free to choose a therapy provider, we encourage selecting a therapist with the expertise and experience appropriate for your condition and goals.
Can Physical Therapy Help Avoid Surgery?
In many cases, physical therapy can help patients manage symptoms and improve function without surgery. Treatment may help by:
- Improving strength and joint stability
- Correcting movement dysfunction
- Reducing pain and inflammation
- Enhancing mobility and overall function
Physical therapy is commonly recommended as a first-line treatment for conditions such as:
- Knee pain and early arthritis
- Shoulder impingement and rotator cuff disorders
- Low back and neck pain
- Tendonitis and overuse injuries
- Many other orthopedic conditions
When surgery is necessary, therapy often plays an important role both before and after the procedure to optimize recovery.
Does OrthoNebraska Also Offer Hand Therapy Services?
Yes, OrthoNebraska also offers specialized hand therapy services for conditions affecting the hand, wrist, elbow, and upper extremity.
Our hand therapists provide expert evaluation and treatment for a wide range of orthopedic and post-surgical conditions, including:
- Custom splint fabrication
- Post-operative rehabilitation
- Tendon and nerve injuries
- Fracture recovery
- Hand, wrist, and elbow conditions affecting function and daily activities
With advanced training in upper-extremity rehabilitation, our hand therapy team focuses on restoring function, reducing pain, and helping patients return to the activities they enjoy.
