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Expert & specialised hand therapy treatments

At Hand Therapy Studio, Toni provides expert hand therapy for injuries and conditions affecting the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow. Based in Hamilton and soon in Matamata, we offer personalised treatment plans tailored to your recovery goals. Whether you are recovering from surgery, managing arthritis, or have sustained a recent ACC injury, our focus is restoring strength, movement, and confidence in your everyday life.

Splinting and Casting

During your appointment, we create and fit customised thermoplastic splints and casts designed specifically for your needs. These can help protect fractures, support post‑operative healing, manage acute injuries, and assist with swelling or scar care. Every device is shaped to your unique anatomy and daily activities to ensure comfort and effective results. When suitable, off‑the‑shelf options may also be used, with all splints adjustable as your recovery progresses.

Acute Trauma and Chronic Hand Conditions

We support people with a wide range of concerns—from sudden injuries like fractures, sprains, cuts, and crush injuries to long‑term conditions such as arthritis. Your care is tailored to you and may include customised splinting, gentle hands‑on treatment, movement retraining, and targeted strengthening to help you feel better, move with confidence, and get back to what you love

Scar Management

After an injury, surgery, or burns, we provide gentle, supportive scar care to help you heal with confidence. This includes options such as scar desensitisation, silicone therapy, scar remodelling, pressure treatments, and custom-made splints—each tailored to your comfort and recovery goals.

Post-operative Care

In close collaboration with local surgeons, we provide specialised post‑operative care to support your recovery whether you’re healing from fracture fixation, tendon or nerve procedures, joint surgery, or other operations. Your rehabilitation may include gentle wound and scar care, swelling management, customised splinting or casting, and hands‑on therapy designed to help you regain comfort, strength, and full function.

Sports and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Whether you’re dealing with a fracture, sprain, or tendon or ligament injury, we offer targeted rehabilitation designed to rebuild strength, flexibility, and performance. We work closely with each athlete to support their goals and promote a confident, safe, and timely return to sport with the right level of guidance and protection along the way.

Dry Needling

Dry needling is one of the specialised services we offer within our practice to help ease pain, release muscle tension, and support recovery from a range of hand and upper‑limb conditions. Using fine, sterile needles, this technique targets tight or overactive muscles to reduce discomfort, improve movement, and enhance overall function. It can be seamlessly integrated into your personalised treatment plan to help you feel more comfortable, move more freely, and progress confidently through your rehabilitation.

Nerve Injuries

We provide specialised care for nerve injuries affecting the hand and upper limb, helping reduce pain, restore sensation, and improve everyday function. Treatment may include targeted exercises, sensory re‑education, swelling and scar care, and customised splinting to protect healing nerves. Your rehabilitation is tailored to your symptoms, goals, and stage of recovery, supporting you to regain confidence, comfort, and control as you return to daily activities.

Overuse and Gradual Onset Injuries

We provide tailored care for overuse and repetitive‑strain injuries affecting the hand and upper limb, including common conditions such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and tendon or soft‑tissue irritation from repeated tasks at work, home, or sport. Treatment may involve activity modification, targeted strengthening, movement retraining, swelling or tendon care, and customised splinting where needed. Your rehabilitation is designed around your goals and daily activities, helping you reduce pain, restore comfortable movement, and prevent symptoms from returning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Hand Therapist?

Hand therapy is a specialised form of physiotherapy and occupational therapy focused on restoring comfort, movement, and strength in the hand, wrist, and upper limb. At Hand Therapy Studio, we provide personalised rehabilitation, custom splinting, and expert post‑injury and post‑surgical care in a warm, supportive environment. Our goal is to help people return to everyday life, work, and sport with confidence and ease.

Do I need a referral to see you?

You don’t need a referral to book an appointment with us. Clients are welcome to contact Hand Therapy Studio directly, and we’re happy to see people through self‑referral. We also accept referrals from GPs, specialists, surgeons, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, ACC case managers, and other health providers, so people can come to us in whichever way feels easiest for them.

What should I bring to my appointment

To make the most of your first session, bring anything that helps us understand your injury or symptoms. Most importantly, come as you are — your appointment is centred on you, your goals, and what you’re experiencing.

It’s helpful to bring:

  • Any medical or surgical information you have, such as imaging reports or letters from your GP or specialist.

  • Your ACC claim number, if you have one.

  • Any splints, braces, or supports you’re currently using.

  • A brief sense of how your symptoms affect your daily activities or work.

These details help us build a clear picture of your needs so we can tailor your treatment from the very beginning.

How long do appointments take

Appointments at Hand Therapy Studio are typically 30 minutes, giving enough time for a focused assessment, hands‑on treatment, and space to talk through your goals and questions. This length allows your therapist to understand what’s going on, begin treatment straight away, and make sure you leave with a clear plan that feels manageable and tailored to you.

Most follow‑up sessions are also around 30 minutes, though your therapist may adjust the timing if your condition or treatment needs something different. The aim is always to give you the right amount of time — not rushed, not excessive — so your care feels personal and effective

Is there a charge to see you?

There is a charge for appointments, and the exact cost depends on whether your visit is covered by ACC or is a private consultation. ACC‑funded appointments have a subsidised fee, while private sessions are charged at our standard rate. We’ll always let you know the cost upfront so there are no surprises, and we’re happy to talk through any questions about funding or coverage before you book.