"Expert hand therapy options: Clinic Consults, Telehealth & Home Visit"
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"Our 12 established clinics are staffed by fully qualified physiotherapists and occupational therapists who have undertaken specialised training in treating the wrist, elbow and hand. We focus on patient care and are known for our friendly professionalism and outstanding customer service. In addition to treating people who self-refer, we are a leading referral point for many Melbourne doctors and regularly work alongside hand surgeons to provide specialised post-operative rehabilitation support. At Melbourne Hand Rehab, our highly skilled hand therapists undertake regular professional development training. Several of our hand therapists are also pursuing advanced postgraduate degrees in their field, including PhDs in bio-medicine and tendinopathy. Melbourne Hand Rehab is led by Karen Fitt, immediate past president of Australian Hand Therapy Association. Karen established Melbourne Hand Rehab over 30 years ago, and is regularly approached by professional associations and media to comment on hand therapy issues. Members of our team also volunteer with Interplast to train hand therapists overseas. About Us: What to Expect, Appointments, Locations (Melbourne, Richmond, Richmond – Victoria Gardens, North Essendon, Ivanhoe, Mill Park, Bulleen, Boronia, Hoppers Crossing, Werribee, Moorabbin, Caroline Springs (New), Heidelberg (see Ivanhoe)), Our Therapists, News and Events, Blog, Testimonials, Contact, FAQs, COVID-19 policy & safe plan. Our locations Melbourne Hand Rehab has 12 clinics in convenient locations across Melbourne: Principal clinics in various key areas. Appointments are available from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. Saturday morning appointments are available between 8am and 12 noon."
I strive to create an environment conducive to optimal healing and outcomes for each and every patient. After 30 rewarding years of hand therapy practice, Karen now uses her experience and knowledge to create an environment at Melbourne Hand Rehab for optimal healing for our patients and rewarding careers for our talented team. Karen provides strong leadership and training to our growing team and hopes to help more people by paying forward her expertise to those with a whole career of helping ahead of them. Karen’s goal is to provide the best clinical environment conducive to providing exceptional treatment and ideal outcomes for all of our patients.
My approach to care: Your hands help you participate in everyday activities for work, sport, hobbies, and caring for your family. I pride myself on being able to empathize with my patients about the challenges a hand injury can cause to your everyday life. My empathy helps me achieve a greater connection and understanding between my patients and myself and it helps me tailor and teach a rehabilitation program to achieve the best possible outcome. It was during my graduate degree that I found my passion for hand therapy. I love seeing the results my patients achieve during their hand rehabilitation program. I moved to Melbourne from the USA in 2011 and am a proud mother of two children. I also enjoy yoga, tennis, fashion, and watching football. Additional languages: Spanish for therapy purposes.
I am committed to working together with you to find a pathway that lets you return to sport safely. I am passionate about sport, with specific interest in football, rugby, eSports, gymnastics, swimming, rock climbing and ice hockey. My sports growing up were swimming, rock-climbing, and rugby. In addition to sport, I also enjoy cooking and sitting down with a good book.
I believe accurate physical diagnosis leads to an effective management strategy. I am happy to see my patients making progress in every single session. I moved to Australia from Hong Kong in 2023. In my leisure time, I enjoy distance running, reading and spending time with my kids.
I believe that our hands are the way that we all engage in our world, so it is important to be well supported in the rehabilitation of them when they’re injured. I pride myself on the ability to support my clients returning to their optimal hand function post an injury. I established my passion for Hand Therapy in university and have continued to concentrate on upper limb rehabilitation as both a general Occupational Therapist and now as a Practitioner in Hand Therapy. Outside of work, I enjoy being with family and friends, being active outside with my adorable dogs and cooking.
I am fascinated by the depth of impact that hand function has on our lives. I value working as a team with patients to maximise positive life outcomes.
My approach to care: I strongly believe in a holistic approach to therapy, as people should never be defined by their injuries. I aim to provide therapy that is evidence-based, meaningful and tailored to help achieve the specific needs of each person I treat. In my spare time you can find me doing anything crafty, such as knitting or sewing, cooking, playing music or reading a good book. I am also an avid skier once we get into the colder months.
"Melbourne Hand Rehab is Melbourne’s leading hand therapy service. Our hand specialists understand that all aspects of your life are affected by your ability to use your hands. That’s why we’re committed to getting you back to doing the things you love as soon as possible. Our team of qualified hand therapists have been taking care of Melbourne’s hands for over 30 years, and during that time we’ve helped thousands of people get back to doing what they love after a hand injury or condition. We specialise in treating the hand, wrist and elbow. At Melbourne Hand Rehab, we offer a wide array of hand therapy and hand rehabilitation services. From therapeutic interventions and post-operative rehabilitation, through to pain management programs and work site assessments, our comprehensive range of services is designed to help you get back to doing your day-to-day activities as soon as possible. Melbourne Hand Rehab’s Director, Karen Fitt regularly appears in the media and is available for media comment on a range of hand-therapy related topics. We also run a range of hand therapy events throughout the year."