Surgical and nonsurgical management of upper extremity disordersbenefits from the collaboration of a therapist, the treating physician,and the patient. Hand therapy plays a role in many aspects of treatment,and patients with upper extremity injuries may spend considerablymore time with a therapist than with a surgeon. Hand therapists coordinateedema control; pain management; minimization of joint contractures;maximization of tendon gliding, strengthening, and work hardening;counseling; and ongoing diagnostic evaluation. Modalities used tomanage hand injuries include ultrasound, splinting, Fluidotherapy(Chattanooga Group, Chattanooga, TN), cryotherapy, various electricalmodalities, phonophoresis, and iontophoresis.