What is Hand Therapy?
Hand therapy is the specialised practice of assessing and treating injuries and conditions affecting the entire upper limb (including the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, arm, and shoulder). It employs a variety of therapeutic interventions to help individuals regain their highest level of function.
Evolving from the fields of occupational therapy and physiotherapy, hand therapy arose from the need for experts with in-depth knowledge and experience to manage the intricate recovery process of complex hand and upper limb injuries. Its primary goals are to prevent dysfunction, restore function, and prevent the progression of pathologies in the hand and upper limb.
A hand therapist is a qualified occupational therapist or physiotherapist with extensive knowledge about treating the hand and upper limb. They specialise in managing injuries, diseases, and deformities and collaborate with other professionals when necessary, including hand surgeons, general practitioners, and rehabilitation consultants.
Services...
Injury management
Each injury requires a tailored strategy based on the structures involved and the individual's needs. We meticulously identify, support, and manage each type of hand and upper limb injury, ensuring comprehensive care and effective ongoing management for every patient.
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Urgent care Priority Injury Service
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Hand and upper limb rehabilitation
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Splinting & casting (to immobilise and to mobilise)
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Mobilisation
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Pain management
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Oedema management
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Wound management
Rehabilitation
We offer a variety of customised rehabilitation programs as part of our comprehensive services. Our tailored approach is aimed at delivering the care and support our patients need to alleviate or eliminate the long-term impact of injuries, effectively manage pain, and optimise recovery and mobility.
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Range of motion
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Strengthening and endurance
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Sensorimotor control
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Graded functional activities
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Facilitate return to work and play
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Ongoing care and support
Our treatment plans ensure effective management for every injury and chronic condition. We integrate long-term rehabilitation into our consultation and treatment processes, offering exceptional support for the care and management of both injuries and chronic conditions.​​
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Scar management
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Chronic pain management
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Joint protection
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Maintenance programs for range of motion, strength, endurance, nerve health
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Education regarding the management of chronic conditions
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Prevention strategies
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Sensory Re-education
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Recommendations/provision of adaptive equipment
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Activity Modification
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Education to community groups / sporting clubs
Conditions...
We can assess and treat hand and upper limb conditions including, but not limited to:
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Fractures
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Dislocations
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Sprains
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Scars
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Burns
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Chronic pain
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Trauma: severe crush, lacerations, or amputations
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Arthritis management
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Focal dystonia
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Thoracic outlet syndrome
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Sports injuries
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Workplace injuries
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Shoulder injuries: rotator cuff, bursitis, frozen shoulder
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Wounds
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Lymphoedema
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Handwriting dysfunction
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Congenital hand disorders
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Hand replants
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Peripheral nerve injuries. For example: carpal tunnel syndrome, radial tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome
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Tendinopathies. For example: lateral epicondylitis (aka tennis elbow), medial epicondylitis (aka golfer’s elbow), De Quervain’s tenosynovitis and trigger finger
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Neuromuscular and neurological conditions affecting the upper limb
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Conservative and post-operative care after joint replacement
Our Story...
( formally Specialists On Hand - Byford )
Hands UP Rehab was launched in July 2024 as a rebrand of Specialists On Hand – Byford, reflecting a fresh focus on independent, high-quality care for the local community.
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We specialise in the assessment, rehabilitation, and splinting of hand and upper limb conditions. Whether you’ve been referred by your GP, surgeon, or allied health provider — or you're simply seeking help for a hand or upper limb issue — we’re here to support you.
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While no referral is required, we work closely with many healthcare providers to ensure our care is well-coordinated, especially for post-operative or complex cases. Many of our clients self-refer for help with pain, injury, recovery, or simply to get back to doing what they love.
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Hands UP Rehab was founded by Jade, an Accredited Hand Therapist and Occupational Therapist, with over 17 years of clinical experience. Backed by strong ties with GPs, surgeons, allied health professionals, local businesses, and sporting teams, our clinic is known for its consistent outcomes, collaborative care, and genuine connection with patients.
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We’re passionate about empowering people to recover, move, and thrive — with hands-on care that fits into real life.​
Have questions or want to know if we can help? You’re always welcome to reach out — or book online when you’re ready.
Jade Bickley-Tyler
Jade is a passionate and dedicated Occupational Therapist and Accredited Hand Therapist with over 17 years of experience in private practice. Since completing her Master of Occupational Therapy in 2009, she has worked across hospital, private, and community settings, treating a wide range of acute and chronic hand and upper limb conditions.
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Jade’s background in Health Promotion and her early work in remote WA public health have shaped her holistic, education-based approach to therapy — where prevention and empowerment are just as important as hands-on treatment.
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Her clinical strengths include managing complex and undiagnosed wrist issues, splint and orthotic fabrication, and supporting recovery following injury or surgery. She is also passionate about helping people manage chronic conditions like arthritis, empowering clients to better understand their condition, reduce symptoms, and maintain function — helping prevent unnecessary decline and improve quality of life.
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Jade is deeply committed to ensuring her community has access to the highest standard of care, close to home. She continually explores and invests in innovative, evidence-based treatment technologies — often seen in elite sports settings — and brings them into her hand therapy practice so every client can benefit from the very best approaches for faster recovery and long-term wellness.
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Outside the clinic, Jade is a proud and busy mum of four and a loving wife. She shares a love of horse riding with her daughters (while her son prefers anything with wheels!) and spends weekends supporting their sports, riding ponies, and cheering from the sidelines. She also plays and coaches netball in the local community. When not in the clinic, Jade runs Umatah Retreat Chalet and embraces the joyful chaos of country life. Having grown up in Byford and returned to raise her family here, she feels deeply connected to the community and is grateful for the trust and support of her patients — past, present, and future.