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Discover the essential hand therapy equipment used by healthcare professionals for assessment, splinting, strengthening and upper limb rehabilitation. This guide explores the clinical solutions that support evidence-informed patient care across every stage of recovery.
Effective hand therapy requires a combination of accurate assessment, appropriate splinting solutions, progressive rehabilitation exercises and functional support. For hand therapists, occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals, selecting the right equipment is essential to delivering personalised treatment programmes and supporting positive patient outcomes.
Key Takeaways
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Objective assessment tools help clinicians monitor rehabilitation progress using measurable outcomes.
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Splinting solutions range from prefabricated finger splints to customised thermoplastic orthoses designed for individual patient requirements.
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Progressive strengthening equipment supports improvements in grip strength, dexterity and upper limb function.
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Combining assessment, splinting, rehabilitation and functional aids creates a comprehensive hand therapy toolkit.
Who is this guide for?
This guide is designed for healthcare professionals involved in hand therapy and upper limb rehabilitation, including:
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Hand Therapists
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Occupational Therapists
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Physiotherapists
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Rehabilitation Professionals
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NHS Clinicians
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Students and newly qualified therapists developing their hand therapy skills
Table of Contents
Assessment Equipment for Hand Therapy
Splinting Equipment for Hand Therapy
Hand Rehabilitation and Strengthening Equipment
Supporting Functional Independence
Choosing the Right Hand Therapy Equipment
Continue Your Professional Development
Assessment Equipment for Hand Therapy
Objective assessment is the foundation of evidence-informed hand therapy. Establishing accurate baseline measurements allows clinicians to monitor progress, evaluate treatment outcomes and adapt rehabilitation programmes based on measurable changes in strength and function.
Standardised assessment tools also support consistent clinical decision-making and outcome reporting throughout a patient's rehabilitation journey.
Grip Strength Assessment
Grip strength is one of the most commonly used outcome measures in hand therapy and upper limb rehabilitation. It provides valuable information about overall hand function and can help clinicians monitor recovery following injury, surgery or neurological conditions.
Reliable grip strength measurements allow therapists to demonstrate functional improvements over time and evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes.
The Jamar Plus+ Digital Dynamometer is widely used by healthcare professionals for accurate grip strength assessment. Its digital display, electronic load cell technology and automatic calculation of statistical data help clinicians obtain reliable, repeatable measurements while streamlining clinical documentation.
Suitable for hand therapy clinics, rehabilitation departments and hospital settings, it supports objective assessment throughout the rehabilitation process.
Splinting Equipment for Hand Therapy
Splinting is a key component of hand rehabilitation, helping clinicians protect healing structures, support joint positioning, improve alignment and promote functional movement. Depending on the patient's diagnosis and stage of recovery, therapists may prescribe prefabricated splints for immediate support or fabricate custom orthoses to meet specific clinical objectives.
Finger Splints
Prefabricated finger splints provide an effective solution for managing a wide range of finger injuries and conditions while allowing clinicians to provide immediate support without the need for custom fabrication. They can also be adjusted or replaced as rehabilitation progresses, making them a practical option throughout different stages of treatment.
Oval-8 Finger Splints provide a lightweight, waterproof solution for supporting finger positioning and joint protection. Available in a range of sizes, they allow healthcare professionals to manage a variety of conditions using a versatile splinting system.
Oval-8 Finger Splints may be used to support patients with:
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Mallet finger
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Boutonnière deformity
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Swan-neck deformity
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Trigger finger
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Joint instability
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Arthritis-related finger conditions
Their adjustable positioning options allow clinicians to adapt support according to individual patient requirements throughout rehabilitation.
Custom Thermoplastic Splinting
For more complex presentations, custom thermoplastic splints allow therapists to create patient-specific orthoses tailored to individual anatomy, treatment goals and healing stage. Custom splint fabrication plays an important role in managing fractures, tendon injuries, post-operative rehabilitation and neurological conditions where precise positioning and controlled support are required.
Low-temperature thermoplastics remain a material of choice for many hand therapists because they become mouldable when heated and harden as they cool, allowing clinicians to create precise, customised orthoses with excellent fit and patient comfort.
Rolyan Ezeform Thermoplastic is designed specifically for clinical splint fabrication and provides the mouldability and handling characteristics required for creating custom upper limb orthoses. It can be used throughout rehabilitation following injuries, surgery, fractures, tendon repairs and neurological conditions.
As a leader in thermoplastic splinting, Rolyan has established a spectrum of splinting materials in partnership with hand and occupational therapists. The range includes materials with different handling characteristics, conformability and resistance properties, helping clinicians select the most appropriate solution for different splint fabrication techniques and patient requirements.
To support the splint fabrication process, clinicians may also use:
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Rolyan Splint Bath – provides controlled heating of thermoplastic materials before moulding.
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Rolyan Softstrap Strapping Material – helps secure splints comfortably while allowing adjustments throughout rehabilitation.
For healthcare services using thermoplastic materials regularly, Performance Health's Thermoplastic Recycling Scheme provides an opportunity to recycle eligible waste materials and support more sustainable clinical practices.
Hand Rehabilitation and Strengthening Equipment
Progressive exercise is central to restoring hand function, improving strength and supporting a return to everyday activities. As patients progress through rehabilitation, clinicians often introduce strengthening exercises that target grip, pinch strength, dexterity and upper limb function.
Selecting equipment with progressive resistance enables therapists to tailor programmes to each patient's ability while supporting measurable improvements throughout recovery.
Therapy Putty for Strengthening and Dexterity
Therapy putty is widely used in hand rehabilitation because it allows clinicians to prescribe a broad range of strengthening and dexterity exercises. Available in multiple resistance levels, it supports progressive loading as patients regain strength and function, making it suitable for both supervised therapy sessions and home exercise programmes.
Rolyan Therapy Putty is commonly used within hand rehabilitation programmes to support grip strengthening, pinch exercises and dexterity training. Its range of resistance levels allows therapists to progressively increase exercise difficulty while adapting programmes to individual patient needs.
For healthcare environments where infection prevention is an important consideration, Rolyan Antimicrobial Hand Putty provides an alternative option with antimicrobial properties designed to help reduce microbial growth on the surface of the putty. This makes it particularly suitable for shared clinical environments where equipment may be used by multiple patients.
Common applications include:
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Grip strengthening
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Finger strengthening
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Pinch exercises
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Coordination training
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Improving hand endurance
Resistance Training for Upper Limb Rehabilitation
As rehabilitation progresses, clinicians often incorporate resistance training to improve upper limb strength, endurance and functional movement. Resistance bands and flexible exercise tools enable therapists to prescribe controlled loading while gradually increasing exercise intensity as recovery advances.
THERABAND Resistance Bands are widely used within rehabilitation settings to support strengthening programmes involving the upper limb and wider musculoskeletal system. Their colour-coded resistance levels allow clinicians and patients to progress exercises safely and consistently.
The THERABAND FlexBar provides an additional option for wrist, forearm and grip rehabilitation. Its flexible resistance design allows clinicians to prescribe exercises involving bending, twisting and controlled movement patterns, making it a popular choice for upper limb rehabilitation programmes.
Hand Exercise and Grip Training
In addition to traditional strengthening equipment, hand exercisers can be used to improve endurance, coordination and repetitive movement control. These devices are often incorporated into later stages of rehabilitation or home exercise programmes where improving functional hand use is the primary goal.
The Powerball Hand Exerciser helps support grip endurance, coordination and controlled upper limb movement, providing an additional option for patients progressing beyond early strengthening exercises.
When selecting strengthening equipment, clinicians should consider:
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The patient's current functional ability
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Appropriate resistance progression
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The required movement patterns
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Whether equipment will be used in clinic, at home, or both
Supporting Functional Independence
The ultimate goal of hand therapy extends beyond restoring strength or range of motion. Supporting patients in returning to meaningful activities and everyday tasks is a key part of rehabilitation.
Alongside splinting and rehabilitation exercises, adaptive equipment can enable individuals to complete daily activities more safely and independently when pain, weakness, reduced coordination or limited hand control affects function.
The Elispoon Stabilising Spoon provides an adaptive eating aid for individuals who experience difficulty controlling standard cutlery due to reduced hand stability, tremor or impaired coordination. Its self-levelling design helps keep the spoon level during movement, supporting greater confidence and independence during mealtimes.
For occupational therapists, incorporating functional assistive devices alongside rehabilitation interventions can help bridge the gap between clinic-based exercises and meaningful daily activities, supporting patient-centred rehabilitation goals.
Choosing the Right Hand Therapy Equipment
Every patient presents with different rehabilitation goals, functional limitations and stages of recovery, meaning no single piece of equipment is suitable for every clinical scenario. Effective hand therapy often involves combining assessment tools, splinting materials, strengthening equipment and functional aids throughout the rehabilitation journey.
By selecting products that complement one another, clinicians can develop comprehensive treatment programmes that evolve as patients progress - from objective assessment and protective splinting through to progressive strengthening, dexterity training and the restoration of everyday function.
From measuring grip strength and fabricating custom orthoses to improving hand function through targeted exercise, Performance Health offers a comprehensive portfolio of trusted hand therapy solutions, including Jamar, Rolyan and THERABAND, to support healthcare professionals working across NHS, private practice and rehabilitation settings.
Clinical Solutions Featured in This Guide
The following products support different stages of hand therapy, from initial assessment through to rehabilitation and functional independence:
Continue Your Professional Development
Looking to expand your clinical knowledge? Performance Health provides educational resources and product information designed to support evidence-informed rehabilitation practice and help healthcare professionals get the most from their hand therapy equipment.
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NHS Webinar Library – access free educational sessions covering rehabilitation topics, clinical approaches and practical guidance.
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Rolyan Videos – view practical demonstrations and guidance on splinting materials, thermoplastic handling techniques and hand therapy applications.
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Trusted by NHS – discover selected products available through NHS Supply Chain.
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Thermoplastic Recycling Scheme – learn more about recycling eligible thermoplastic materials and supporting more sustainable clinical practices.
Conclusion
Selecting the right hand therapy equipment enables clinicians to support patients throughout the rehabilitation journey, from initial assessment and splinting through to strengthening, functional recovery and return to everyday activities.
A combination of reliable assessment tools, adaptable splinting materials, progressive exercise equipment and functional aids allows healthcare professionals to create personalised treatment programmes based on each patient's individual needs and goals.
With trusted brands including Jamar, Rolyan and THERABAND, Performance Health provides healthcare professionals with reliable solutions designed to support evidence-informed hand therapy practice across NHS, private practice and rehabilitation settings.
Explore our complete range of hand therapy products to discover assessment tools, splinting materials, rehabilitation equipment and clinical resources designed to support therapists throughout every stage of patient care.
References
- American Society of Hand Therapists. Clinical Resources. American Society of Hand Therapists. Retrieved 2026 from https://www.asht.org
- British Association of Hand Therapists. Resources for Hand Therapists. British Association of Hand Therapists. Retrieved 2026 from https://www.baht.org.uk
- British Society for Surgery of the Hand. Information and Resources. British Society for Surgery of the Hand. Retrieved 2026 from https://www.bssh.ac.uk
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided on this site, including text, graphics, images, and other material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
