Concierge rehabilitation · UK
Hand therapy, by a Certified Hand Therapist.
Specialist rehabilitation of the hand, wrist and elbow — the difference between a stiff, painful hand after surgery or injury and a comfortable, functional one. Delivered by a CHT (BAHT-trained), not a general physio.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A Certified Hand Therapist, not a general physio
Hand therapy is a defined sub-specialty. Your therapist is a CHT — an occupational therapist or physiotherapist with post-registration BAHT training in the hand, wrist and elbow.
- 02
Custom splints, made on you
A thermoplastic orthosis moulded to your hand is the defining hand therapy skill. Static, dynamic or static-progressive — chosen for your tissue, at your stage of healing.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What private hand therapy costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner CHTs. Send the details and we come back with a firm figure and a suggested programme length within one working day.
In short
A follow-up hand therapy session in our network: £75–£120, custom splint £80–£180.
| Service | Indicative range | Typical duration | Overall programme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial CHT assessment (60 min) | £95–£150 | 60 min | Same visit |
| Follow-up session (45 min) | £75–£120 | 45 min | Same visit |
| Custom thermoplastic splint | £80–£180 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Post-op tendon rehab (12-week programme) | £1,200–£2,400 | Weekly-2× | 12 weeks |
| Dupuytren’s post-fasciectomy programme | £900–£1,800 | Weekly | 3–6 months |
| Distal radius fracture rehab | £600–£1,200 | Weekly | 8–12 weeks |
Prices vary by clinic, by which CHT is treating you, by the splints and materials required, and by how many sessions your programme calls for. Many insurers cover hand therapy when it follows a covered operation or injury — we check cover before booking.
The problem
The right therapist, the right splint, the right protocol.
After hand surgery or injury, most patients are told to “do their exercises” and sent home with a leaflet. A CHT is a different level of care — measured, splinted, and progressed against the tissue-healing timeline.
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Just had hand surgery?
Kleinert or Duran, short arc motion, extension splinting — the right protocol from day one, not week three when the tendon is already stuck.
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Living with a chronic hand problem?
Carpal tunnel, De Quervain’s, thumb base OA — a proper trial of splinting and loading, before you sign up for surgery or another injection.
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Worried it is not getting better?
DASH and PRWE scores tell you the truth. A CHT measures progress, adjusts the plan and involves your surgeon when something is not tracking.
The journey
From enquiry to your 12-month review — what happens, in order.
One CHT from first assessment to discharge — with your surgeon looped in whenever the plan needs it.
Phase 1 · Before your first session
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · At the clinic
Assessment, splint, first treatment
Phase 3 · Weeks and months after
Reviews at 3, 6 and 12 months
- 01
Before
You tell us what happened
A short, confidential form. Surgery date and operation note if you have it, injury details, or the chronic problem you are living with.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right CHT for your case, expected frequency of sessions, and an indicative price. If a general physio would do, we say so.
- 03
Before
We arrange the first appointment
Usually within a week — sooner after tendon repair, where early motion within days is the difference between a good hand and a stiff one.
- 04
At the clinic
Assessment at the first visit
Goniometry (TAM, TPM), grip and pinch, DASH or PRWE score, oedema and sensory testing. A baseline, so progress is measurable.
- 05
At the clinic
Splint and programme
A custom thermoplastic orthosis moulded on the day if needed, and a home programme you can actually do — with photos or video, not a leaflet.
- 06
At the clinic
Session in the clinic
Wound and scar work, oedema management, graded range of motion, sensory re-education, strengthening — matched to the tissue-healing timeline.
- 07
After
Review and progression
Weekly-fortnightly through weeks 4-12, then reviews at 3, 6 and 12 months. The programme progresses as the tissue does.
Typical intensive phase: 2-3 sessions/week for 4 weeks. Then weekly-fortnightly to 12 weeks, with reviews at 3, 6 and 12 months.
When it helps
When hand therapy is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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After hand or wrist surgery
Flexor or extensor tendon repair, Dupuytren’s fasciectomy, ligament reconstruction, joint replacement, ORIF — early rehab decides the outcome.
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Fractures of the hand or wrist
Distal radius, scaphoid, metacarpal, phalangeal or mallet finger — controlled motion through healing, not weeks of unnecessary stiffness.
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Carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel
Custom night splint, nerve gliders, ergonomic changes — a serious trial of conservative care before, or after, surgery.
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De Quervain’s and trigger finger
Thumb spica splinting, eccentric loading and activity modification — often enough to avoid injection or release.
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Thumb base and hand osteoarthritis
Custom neoprene or thermoplastic splint, joint protection, adaptive equipment — a comfortable, functional hand without more medication.
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Chronic wrist pain and TFCC problems
A proper functional assessment (DASH, PRWE), targeted loading, splinting when needed — instead of another scan and another opinion.
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Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
Early graded motor imagery, mirror therapy, sensory retraining and pacing — the evidence-based programme, delivered gently.
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Red flag: acute infection or loss of function
Spreading redness, fever, or sudden loss of movement after surgery or injury is not for a therapy appointment — same-day A&E or the surgeon on call.
What we actually do
Hand therapy is more than exercises.
What each intervention involves — and which fits which problem, at which stage.
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Custom thermoplastic orthoses
Static, dynamic or static-progressive splints moulded to you — the defining hand therapy skill, chosen per WHFS classification and your healing stage.
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Post-op tendon rehab
Kleinert or Duran early-motion protocols for flexor repair, short arc motion or immobilisation for extensor — a structured 12-week programme.
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Fracture rehabilitation
Controlled motion, oedema and scar work through healing — distal radius, scaphoid, metacarpal, phalangeal and mallet finger.
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Scar and oedema management
Silicone gel or sheet, massage, desensitisation, kinesiotape, coban wrapping, compression glove, retrograde massage and contrast baths.
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Sensory re-education
A staged programme after nerve repair using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments, two-point discrimination and graded texture work.
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Strengthening and functional retraining
Theraputty, hand-helper, dumbbells and real tasks — grip and pinch progressed to the demands of your work, sport and life.
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Ergonomic and workplace advice
A frank look at your desk, keyboard, tools, or instrument — small changes that keep gains once therapy is over.
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Adaptive equipment
Built-up cutlery, jar openers, dressing aids — the occupational therapy overlap, so the hand you have works for the life you want.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of Certified Hand Therapists, we picked them.
CHTs across central London and select regional cities, chosen for splinting skill, post-op experience and honest communication with the referring surgeon. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every CHT in our network.
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Certified Hand Therapists (CHTs) — BAHT-trained, listed on the BAHT directory
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Access to a fully equipped splinting room — thermoplastic, oven, dynamic components
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Close working relationship with the referring hand surgeon or plastic surgeon
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Written home programmes with photos or video — not a generic leaflet
Safety and recovery
What to expect — honestly.
Hand therapy is safe, day-case and low-risk. The things worth planning are your splint wear time, your home programme, and knowing what is normal after surgery or injury.
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Compliance is your job
Honestly — this is the patient’s most important contribution. A superb therapist and a home programme done twice a week beats a great therapist alone.
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Early is better than late
After tendon repair, motion within days protects the glide. Wait three weeks and the tendon is stuck — a much harder problem to solve.
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A little discomfort is fine — pain is not
Post-op movement is uncomfortable. Sharp pain, sudden loss of movement, or a pop is not — call the clinic or your surgeon the same day.
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Splints do most of the work between sessions
The custom splint is not optional dressing. Wear time matters — extension splinting after Dupuytren’s is often 3-6 months, mostly at night.
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Swelling is normal for weeks
Oedema after hand surgery or trauma settles over 2-8 weeks. Elevation, gentle motion and compression are the plan — heat too early makes it worse.
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Scars mature over 6-12 months
A scar looks red and firm for months before it softens and fades. Silicone and massage help — patience helps more.
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Frequency drops as you improve
Intensive early on (2-3×/week weeks 1-4), then weekly to fortnightly weeks 4-12, then reviews at 3, 6 and 12 months.
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Return to work is graded
Desk work often within a fortnight; manual work often 6-12 weeks depending on the operation. We plan this with you and your employer.
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Red flags
Spreading redness, fever, sudden loss of movement, or a wound that opens are not therapy problems — same-day A&E or the surgeon on call.
Reading your hand therapy notes
Your therapy record in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whatever the diagnosis, the note your CHT sends you keeps to the same shape — a baseline, a plan, measured progress and a return-to-function summary.
A quiet reminder
Hand therapy language is precise — degrees, kilograms, DASH scores. We translate it into what it means for your day.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your next review, just ask.
- 01 Baseline
Assessment findings
TAM and TPM in degrees, grip in kg (Jamar), pinch (B&L), DASH or PRWE score, oedema (figure-of-eight or volumetric), sensory (monofilament, two-point).
- 02 Plan
Splint, protocol and frequency
The orthosis prescribed, the protocol chosen (Kleinert, Duran, short arc motion, extension splinting), and how often we plan to see you.
- 03 Progress
Measured change over time
The same measurements repeated at each review — degrees regained, kilograms of grip, functional score. Progress you can see, not just feel.
- 04 Impression
Return-to-function plan
Read this first: what you can and cannot do at each stage, when to progress the splint, and when to return to work, sport or instrument.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for hand therapy varies by insurer and by indication — most commonly funded when it follows a covered operation or injury, self-pay for chronic conditions. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about hand therapy.
Quick answers on CHTs versus physios, splints, cost, frequency and how to get referred on the NHS.
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What is a Certified Hand Therapist, and how are they different from a physio?
A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is an occupational therapist or physiotherapist who has completed post-registration training in the hand, wrist and elbow through the British Association of Hand Therapists (BAHT). Hand therapy is a defined sub-specialty — the assessment tools, the splinting skill and the post-op protocols are different from general physiotherapy.
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Do I really need hand therapy after my operation?
For most hand and wrist surgery — flexor or extensor tendon repair, Dupuytren’s fasciectomy, ligament reconstruction, joint replacement, ORIF — the answer is yes. Structured early rehab is the difference between a functional hand and a stiff, painful one. Your surgeon will usually make it part of the plan.
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How soon after surgery should I start?
Sooner than most people expect. Flexor tendon repair typically starts within 3-5 days on a Kleinert or Duran protocol. Distal radius fracture rehab often starts once the plaster comes off at 6 weeks. Waiting too long is the commonest avoidable cause of a poor result.
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How much does private hand therapy cost in the UK?
Roughly £75-120 per follow-up session and £95-150 for an initial assessment. Custom thermoplastic splints are £80-180. A 12-week post-op tendon programme is typically £1,200-2,400 in total. Many insurers cover hand therapy when it follows a covered operation or injury.
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How often will I need to come?
Intensive early on — usually 2-3 times a week for the first 4 weeks after surgery — then weekly to fortnightly through weeks 4-12, with reviews at 3, 6 and 12 months. Chronic conditions such as thumb base OA or carpal tunnel are often much less frequent.
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What does a custom splint actually do?
A thermoplastic splint moulded to your hand protects a repair, positions a joint, or restores movement to a stiff one. It is worn most of the day and night in the early stages and is progressed or replaced as you heal. Off-the-shelf splints are not the same thing.
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Is hand therapy available on the NHS?
Yes, via referral from your GP, hand surgeon, plastic surgeon, orthopaedic team or A&E. Waits and frequency vary by trust. Many patients combine NHS follow-up with private sessions when they want more frequent hands-on rehab in the critical early weeks.
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How do I find a Certified Hand Therapist myself?
The British Association of Hand Therapists directory at hand-therapy.co.uk lists CHTs by region and by specialism. We do the matching for you against your operation or condition — but the directory is the honest starting point if you would rather do it yourself.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Hand & wrist ligament reconstruction
Surgical repair of torn ligaments in the hand and wrist.
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Hand surgery for Dupuytren’s disease
Fasciectomy and needle release for Dupuytren’s contracture.
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Elbow physiotherapy
Rehabilitation for tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow and post-op elbow.
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All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more