1. What will need protection, and what will need movement?
Ask the surgeon to name the tissues being treated and explain how that affects the rehabilitation plan. A tendon repair, fracture operation, nerve procedure, and treatment for stiffness may have very different priorities. The word hand surgery is not enough information for a therapist to design the first visit. Clarify which instructions are definite and which depend on what is found during the operation. Make sure the final plan reaches the therapist afterward. This prevents a general exercise expectation from conflicting with the needs of a particular repair.
Sources: Hand Therapy · Ask a Doctor: Preparing for Hand Surgery
2. Who is the right therapist for this plan?
Hand therapy may be provided by an appropriately trained occupational or physical therapist. Ask about experience with your type of operation and the required protection or orthosis. A credential can help you understand training, but the practical discussion should also cover availability, communication, and continuity of care. Find out who will evaluate you and who you may see later. If another therapist covers a visit, ask how they will receive the current restrictions. You want a clear handoff within therapy as well as between therapy and surgery.
Sources: Hand Therapy
3. When should the first visit happen?
Ask the treating team to specify timing based on the operation, rather than booking around a general recovery calendar. Some plans need early coordination for protection or guided motion; others begin differently. Confirm whether an appointment can be arranged before surgery and whether authorization is required. If the recommended therapist is unavailable, tell the surgeon promptly and ask about an alternative. A delay should be a conscious clinical decision, not a scheduling accident. Keep a record of the appointment and what documents or devices you should bring.
Sources: Hand Therapy · Ask a Doctor: Preparing for Hand Surgery
4. What should I know about an orthosis or splint?
If a custom device is expected, ask who will make it, how adjustments are arranged, and whether the cost is billed separately. Ask for written wearing and cleaning instructions specific to your surgery. Explain any skin sensitivity, trouble managing straps, or need for caregiver help. A device is part of the treatment, so difficulty using it deserves attention rather than quiet improvisation. Bring it to relevant follow-up visits and report fit problems. The team should tell you which changes you can make and which require reassessment.
Sources: Hand Therapy
5. How will therapy connect to the tasks I value?
Name a few concrete activities, such as fastening clothing, playing an instrument, preparing food, or handling work tools. Discuss which are essential and which can wait. The therapist can connect the permitted program to those goals and help identify adaptations. This is more useful than asking only when the hand will feel normal. Keep expectations tied to the operation and the clinician's restrictions. If a task is important because someone else depends on you, explain that responsibility early so the team can help you plan appropriate support.
Sources: Hand Therapy · Ask a Doctor: Preparing for Hand Surgery
6. What happens between appointments?
Ask for a home plan you understand and can demonstrate accurately. Clarify the purpose of each permitted activity, how it fits the protection rules, and which response should prompt a call. Do not add exercises from another patient's experience without discussing them. Tell the therapist about time, equipment, transport, or pain barriers that make the plan difficult. The solution may be a simpler plan or additional teaching rather than more instructions. At the next visit, describe what you actually managed so the program can be adjusted realistically.
Sources: Hand Therapy
7. Who decides when the plan changes?
Know who can authorize more motion, loading, work, or driving and how that decision will reach everyone involved. Ask when the surgeon wants an update from therapy and how you will review progress together. A change in the calendar alone may not establish readiness for the next task. If the surgeon's instructions and the therapy plan seem different, ask the teams to reconcile them. Keep one current version of the restrictions. A coordinated rehabilitation plan leaves you knowing what to do today and what decision comes next.
Sources: Hand Therapy · Ask a Doctor: Preparing for Hand Surgery
Make the most of your visit
Questions to bring to your consultation
Choose the questions that matter most to you. Bring them along, and ask us to explain anything that is unclear.
- Which part of my operation determines the therapy restrictions?
- What experience should my therapist have with this procedure?
- When should the first visit occur, and who arranges it?
- Will I need a custom orthosis and follow-up adjustments?
- Which everyday tasks should we use as rehabilitation goals?
- Can I demonstrate the home plan before leaving?
- Who authorizes changes in motion, loading, and work?
Sources & further reading
- Hand TherapyAmerican Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH / The Hand Society)
- Ask a Doctor: Preparing for Hand SurgeryAmerican Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH / The Hand Society)
We use these medical sources to help explain your options and prepare you for a conversation with our team. Our guides feature our own clinicians; patient reviews describe individual experiences.
