This patient education handout shares information on caring for a hand burn

Livaudais, Courtney

Sitler, Emily

English

CommonKnowledge

Pacific University 
CommonKnowledge 
Occupational Therapy Education Tools Patient Education Tools 
Spring 2018 
Caring for Your Hand Burn 
Emily Sitler 
Pacific University, sitl7132@pacificu.edu 
Courtney Livaudais 
Pacific University, liva3305@pacificu.edu 
Recommended Citation 
Sitler, Emily and Livaudais, Courtney, "Caring for Your Hand Burn" (2018). Occupational Therapy Education 
Tools. 14. 
https://commons.pacificu.edu/otet/14 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Patient Education Tools at CommonKnowledge. It 
has been accepted for inclusion in Occupational Therapy Education Tools by an authorized administrator of 
CommonKnowledge. For more information, please contact CommonKnowledge@pacificu.edu. 
Caring for Your Hand Burn 
Description 
This patient education handout shares information on caring for a hand burn. 
Keywords 
occupational therapy, hand exercises, burn 
Disciplines 
Occupational Therapy | Rehabilitation and Therapy 
Rights 
Terms of use for work posted in CommonKnowledge. 
This article is available at CommonKnowledge: https://commons.pacificu.edu/otet/14 
Your provider:   Phone:    
 
 
 
It is important to move your hand. 
 
 Muscles get weak if they are not used. 
 Skin gets tight after a burn. Moving 
the burned skin area helps keep 
joints, muscles and tendons from 
getting tight. 
 Moving your hands and fingers can 
help them stay strong and flexible. 
This can help you get back to doing 
the things you need and like to do. 
 
Other tips for burn care: 
 
 To help stop swelling: 
elevate (raise) your hand 
when you relax or sleep. 
You can rest your hand on 
a pile of pillows.  
 Use adaptive tools or make 
changes to the way you do 
things as needed while you heal.  
 Move your hands as much as 
you can. Movement helps 
prevent scarring.  
 Stretch. Stop if it hurts. 
 Move your hand often during 
the day. Ways you can do this: 
o carry shopping bags 
o use a spray bottle to 
water plants 
o play cards 
o play catch 
o cut food 
o brush your teeth 
o open jars 
o write or paint 
o do yoga 
 
 
 
 
References: 
MSKTC. (2015). Exercise after burn injury. Retrieved from http://www.msktc.org/burn/factsheets/Exercise-After-Burn-Injury 
North Bristol NHS Trust. (2016). Hand exercises following burn injuries. Retrieved from 
https://www.nbt.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/Hand%20exercises%20following%20burn%20injuries_NBT002869.pdf 
Six pack active hand exercises. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nd.gov/omb/sites/omb/files/documents/state-employee/training/Hand-Exercises.pdf 
Caring for Your Hand Burn 
Take-home exercises and tips for a quick recovery 
Hand Exercises 
Start your hand exercises as soon as 
your  doctor says it is ok. 
 
Try to do these exercises every hour 
you are awake. 
 
Goal: Do all 6 exercises ___ times 
each day. 
Do each exercise ___ times 
Hold each action for ___ seconds.  
Do the same amount on each hand.  
 - 
  
 
 
 
 
2. Knuckle bend 
Keep your knuckles and wrist straight. Bend and 
straighten your fingers. 
 
 
 
 
3. Make a fist 
Make sure to bend  each  joint  as  much  as possible.  
 If the back  of  your hand  is  burned, do not 
squeeze  your  thumb too tightly. 
 
 
4. Straighten and spread your fingers 
 
 
 
 
 
5. Make O’s 
Make an “O” by touching your thumb to each 
fingertip, one  at  a  time.  
 
Open your  hand wide  after touching each finger. 
 
  
6. Table spread 
Rest  your hand on  a  table top, palm  faced  down. 
Spread  your  fingers  wide  apart, and then  bring  
them back together  again. 
 
 
 
knuckles to  make  a  tabletop  with  your 
fingers. 
Doing these 6 exercises helps move every joint in your hand. 
 


Caring for Your Hand Burn

https://commons.pacificu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&amp;context=otet

Caring for Your Hand Burn

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