Hand Therapy in Cranbrook

Hands gently holding an older person's hands

Hand Physiotherapy

Hand therapy is specialized rehabilitation for upper limb, from the shoulder to the fingertips. It can be useful to treat arthritis and tendonitis as well as breaks, strains and sprains. Shannon Ryley specializes in upper limb and hand physiotherapy, read more about her practice below.

Hand Therapy & Upper Limb Rehabilitation

30+ Years of Clinical Experience

Mary Pack Arthritis Program

Specialized physiotherapy for the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder — from acute injury to chronic conditions — delivered by one of BC's most experienced upper limb therapists.

Book with Shannon Online What We Treat

Hand therapy is a specialized area of physiotherapy focused on rehabilitation of the entire upper limb — from the shoulder to the fingertips. At Kootenay Health Centre, Shannon Ryley brings over three decades of advanced clinical expertise to the treatment of hand and upper limb conditions, offering individualized, evidence-based care to patients in Cranbrook and the surrounding East Kootenay region.

What Is Hand Therapy

Specialized Rehabilitation for Your Entire Upper Limb

Hand therapy goes well beyond treating the hand itself. It encompasses the assessment and rehabilitation of all structures from the shoulder to the fingertips — including the joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves, muscles, and skin of the entire upper extremity. Hand therapists are physiotherapists with advanced training in the anatomy, biomechanics, and pathology of the upper limb, and they use a distinct set of assessment and treatment skills to address conditions that general physiotherapy may not fully address.

Whether you are recovering from surgery, managing a chronic condition like arthritis, or dealing with an acute injury, hand therapy aims to restore function, reduce pain, and help you return to the activities and work that matter most to you.

Manual Therapy

Hands-on joint mobilization, soft tissue techniques, and nerve mobilization to restore range of motion, reduce stiffness, and address pain at its source throughout the upper limb.

Splinting and Bracing

Fitting and customizing splints and braces to protect healing structures, support weakened joints, correct positioning, and manage pain during recovery and daily activity.

Therapeutic Exercise

Individualized exercise programs to rebuild strength, coordination, endurance, and fine motor function — designed around your specific condition, goals, and lifestyle.

Therapeutic Modalities

Use of ultrasound, laser, electrical stimulation, and other therapeutic modalities alongside scar management for post-surgical and post-injury recovery.

Education and Self-Management

Guidance on joint protection strategies, activity modification, ergonomics, and home exercise so you are equipped to manage your condition confidently between appointments.

Functional Rehabilitation

Work-hardening, activity-specific retraining, and return-to-work or return-to-sport planning to ensure your recovery translates into the real-world function you need.

Conditions Treated

What We Can Help With

Shannon's practice covers the full spectrum of upper limb conditions. The following represent the most common presentations seen in our Cranbrook clinic.

Fractures and Dislocations

Post-fracture rehabilitation for the fingers, hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, and shoulder — including post-cast management, mobilization, and strengthening.

Arthritis of the Hand and Wrist

Management of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis affecting the fingers, thumb, wrist, and elbow — including joint protection, splinting, and exercise programs.

Tendon Injuries

Rehabilitation following flexor and extensor tendon injuries or repairs, including post-surgical protocols, scar management, and progressive strengthening.

Nerve Injuries and Compression

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, and peripheral nerve injuries — including nerve gliding and sensory re-education.

Sports and Overuse Injuries

Management of sprains, strains, ligament injuries, and repetitive strain conditions of the hand, wrist, and elbow — including lateral epicondylitis and de Quervain's tenosynovitis.

Post-Surgical Rehabilitation

Structured rehabilitation following hand, wrist, and elbow surgeries — including Dupuytren's contracture release, trigger finger release, joint replacement, and ligament repair.

Tendinitis and Bursitis

Assessment and treatment of inflammatory conditions affecting the tendons and bursae of the upper limb, with a focus on load management, activity modification, and progressive rehabilitation.

Dupuytren's Contracture

Pre- and post-operative management of Dupuytren's contracture, including splinting to maintain surgical gains and exercises to restore finger extension and hand function.

Our Approach

What to Expect at Your Appointment

Shannon takes a thorough, individualized approach with every patient. No two upper limb conditions present exactly the same way, and your treatment plan will be built specifically around your anatomy, your diagnosis, and your goals.

1

Comprehensive Assessment

Your first appointment begins with a detailed history and a thorough physical assessment of the affected structures — including range of motion, strength, sensation, functional capacity, and any relevant imaging or surgical notes. This gives Shannon a complete picture of what is happening and what your recovery should look like.

2

Individualized Treatment Plan

Based on the assessment, Shannon develops a treatment plan tailored to your specific condition, goals, and lifestyle. She takes a partnership approach — your priorities and what matters to you in daily life are central to how the plan is designed.

3

Hands-On Treatment

Treatment sessions incorporate manual therapy, modalities, splinting or bracing where appropriate, therapeutic exercise, and education. Shannon draws on her extensive training and experience to apply the most appropriate combination of techniques for your presentation at each stage of recovery.

4

Home Program and Self-Management

A well-designed home exercise and self-management program is an essential part of any successful rehabilitation. Shannon ensures you leave each appointment with a clear, practical program and the knowledge to carry it out confidently.

5

Progress Review and Discharge Planning

Shannon monitors your progress closely and adjusts your treatment plan as your recovery evolves. The goal is always to get you to the point where you

Meet your practitioners

Physiotherapist

Shannon Ryley

Registered Physiotherapist Rheumatology & Musculoskeletal Specialist Health Educator in Cranbrook.

With over three decades of clinical excellence, Shannon's career spans leading roles in hospital, private, and public health settings, most notably with the Mary Pack Arthritis Program and private practice clinics.

Shannon’s dedication to lifelong learning is reflected in her extensive continuing education, including specialized training in tendon injuries, biomechanics, chronic pain, nutrition, and advanced hand therapy. She holds certifications in GLAD for osteoarthritis management, management of RA and OA hands, advanced therapy for hip and knee replacements, and BET Biokinetik techniques.

Shannon takes a partnership approach with each of her clients, working towards the client's goals using manual therapy, modalities, splinting/bracing, education and exercise strategies.

New and returning patients can schedule online with Shannon by clicking the button below:

Book with Shannon Ryley