Katherine Butler

katherine-butler

Katherine Butler

B.Ap(Sc)OT, AHT(BAHT), A.Mus.A(Flute)

I am a Clinical Specialist in Hand Therapy with over 25 years of experience. I have held several posts within the NHS and private hospitals in Australia and the UK. In 2006, I established my clinic with the aim of providing first class assessment and treatment of all hand and upper limb conditions.

Career

I am a Clinical Specialist in Hand Therapy with over 25 years of experience. I have held several posts within the NHS and private hospitals in Australia and the UK. In 2006, I established my clinic with the aim of providing first class assessment and treatment of all hand and upper limb conditions.

My passion is helping people with a variety of shoulder, arm, wrist, and hand conditions by using evidence-based treatment techniques. Although I treat a wide variety of conditions, I have a particular interest in musicians’ injuries, hypermobility, and task specific dystonia.

As a trained flautist myself, I have valuable insight into the life and pressures facing musicians and I enjoy combining my love of music with my clinical knowledge and have earned a strong reputation as a leading specialist in performing arts medicine.

I hold appointments at University College London and Plymouth University as an Honorary Associate Professor. I gained my Accredited Hand Therapist award in 2003 and in 2013 I was awarded the esteemed Natalie Barr Award by the British Association of Hand Therapist for my achievements in hand therapy.

In 2023 I was granted Practising Privileges by Mayo Clinic Healthcare and am honoured to be associated with The London Orthopaedic Clinic.

Testimonials

“I want to make sure that you know what a difference you've made to my life! I feel now that I can trust my fingers and be expressive without pain which is truly wonderful.”

“Your sensitive, kind, informative and encouraging approach really helped me to believe that my fingers could heal and that I could play violin pain free once more.”

"Thank you for listening to and supporting me. Even now I can hear your kind voice inside whilst I do any of the exercises that you set me and it really makes me more resilient."

"The Treatment I have been given by Katherine Butler has been incredible, such detail, experience and dedication to the issue I had which now means I will have the opportunity of playing my instrument professionally for many more years to come. I am sincerely grateful and thankful to have been treated by ‘THE BEST!’"

"Outstanding service, and world-class knowledge of diagnosis and treatments. I would highly recommend this clinic for anyone with a hand injury, particularly musicians."

"Katherine Butler has been invaluable to me over the years as a hand therapist. I would highly recommend that any musician visit her clinic if they experience any pain or discomfort from playing, or simply if they want to keep an eye on and improve their grip and joint strengths etc. She also provides advice for people like me who are hypermobile."

"This is a kind and welcoming clinic with gracious and considerate staff, especially important when one is in pain and rather anxious. My experiences of being treated by clinical hand therapist Miss Katherine Butler are of expertise and personal warmth and very successful."

"Thank you so much for coming to the rescue Katherine ... it’s no exaggeration to say that I certainly couldn’t have done it without your help!"

"I have had problems with my thumb on and off for my whole career due to hyper mobility. Katherine Butler gave me very helpful advice, strengthening exercises and we experimented with different splints. The splint which works best for me, which I continue to use when playing, is a silver ring splint. Katherine meticulously measured me for this and fitted it when it arrived. After years of pain and worry, I now feel I can play to the best of my ability again. Katherine really did rescue my career! Thank you so much!"

"I am so thankful for all you have done for me and my physical health. I was doubtful that I would ever recover from my injury due to mixed and incorrect messages and diagnoses and coming across ‘not very helpful’ people. I am very fortunate to have come across you as you were informative, helpful and caring. My hands and arms are in great condition now and this brings me much peace and happiness in all aspects of my life."

"You are a genius! I can’t thank you enough for your brilliance. I think you are a miracle worker!"

“You are the best therapist I have ever met - and I have met many! So many thanks for actually listening to me and giving practical and wise advice and wonderful treatments.”

“Thank you for everything you have done to get me back to being able to give concerts. There was a long time where I thought it was 'game over' but I can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel. That makes me inexplicably happy and it is really down to you!”

“The expertise, patience and encouragement I have received at London Hand Therapy have not only helped me to recover, but have given me the confidence to believe that I would do so. A lifesaver, as being an injured musician makes you feel very vulnerable!”

“Thankfully I found London Hand Therapy, after receiving poor advice from my GP and becoming very frustrated! Katherine is fantastic, compassionate and quickly reversed the lack of function in my hand.”

“Katherine very expertly and sensitively guided me through a medically and emotionally complicated recovery, and I now live a pain-free life thanks to her individual and thoughtful approach.”

“After a nasty, complex, painful injury I thought my rallying days were over. After the surgeon put my wrist back together, the skill, professionalism, empathy and all-round brilliance of London Hand Therapy got me back on the road! Katherine is second to none and I can't recommend her highly enough.”

“Katherine's knowledge, expertise and caring, individual approach are second to none! Thanks to her treatment I'm now back playing!”

“After a life changing injury to my left elbow and hand London Hand Therapy have proved that with their professional treatment it is possible to regain strength and movement. I am forever grateful to them.”

“I was really frightened when I fell on my thumb and thought that it was the end of my playing career. The care I received at London Hand Therapy was amazing - both reassuring and informative with a friendly and relaxed approach. I carefully followed Katherine's advice and am now fully recovered and playing without pain. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!”

“I won the competition and I am in shock! A year ago I would not have been able to play. As I played yesterday I was sending gratitude to you: your patience, knowledge and compassion enabled me to stand in that room, perform and win! Thank you Katherine!”

“I am still so grateful that I found my way to Katherine!”

“Hands of God....I completely trust Katherine in all things upper body related.”

“When I was diagnosed with focal dystonia in my right thumb, I thought I would never be able to play the piano again. I suffered from the condition for almost four years but, with Katherine's help, I got through one of the most difficult stages in my career and life. I am now fully recovered and enjoy a busy performance schedule playing concerts all over the world. Thank you London Hand Therapy!”

“Thank you Katherine for being such an integral part of my recovery! Your super expertise and awesome personality have been extremely reassuring! Thanks for giving me the confidence that this will one day pass and for helping us injured musicians achieve our dreams!”

“The treatment Katherine gave me was warm and caring. I have successfully recovered from trigger finger surgery with a full range of movement and no pain. I really looked forward to the sessions, because afterwards I felt SO much better. I couldn’t recommend her therapeutic treatments more highly.”

“I could never have made the tour if it had not been for the help of London Hand Therapy”

“Thank you for putting me back together again - your treatments are amazing Katherine!”

“London Hand Therapy has been a rock of support, many thanks Katherine.”

“It was a real delight to visit London Hand Therapy - Katherine is enthusiastic and the genuine pleasure she showed when my condition improved really made me feel positive and upbeat. I would recommend LHT to anyone without hesitation.”

”I have rarely met a human being like Katherine - her warmth and professionalism radiate the room and inspired belief and positivity.”

“I have been pain free and my finger has not locked since last seeing you. I cannot imagine what would have happened to me if London Hand Therapy had not helped - thank you so much!”

“It was a pleasure to meet you. I am very pleased with how you helped me recover full use of my finger. I will certainly recommend you if I meet someone in need of hand therapy.”

“I am so pleased that I was referred to you - your help, patience and support has been invaluable - I really appreciate it.”

“I will be forever grateful for the treatment and support that Katherine has provided over the past few years. She has put me back together and given me the opportunity to progress and complete my studies!”

“Thank you so much Katherine for everything you have done for me the past few years. Without your work I wouldn’t be playing. I’ll be forever grateful!”

“I can't thank Katherine enough for her help and support during my rehabilitation. Her expertise and professionalism got me back to competing on tour with the confidence that I needed to perform.”

“Katherine's care, compassion and expertise brought me out of complete arm dysfunction onto the road of a strong recovery - I'm in a much better place now - thank you!”

“There literally aren't enough superlatives to describe Katherine. Her professionalism, dedication, overwhelming experience and expertise are second to none. She has a huge passion for her subject and is constantly seeking to further her knowledge, experience and training beyond her existing qualifications, which already surpass most other therapists in the profession. ”

“Her genuine empathy for patients and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure the very best outcome for her patient's condition is second to none. She never fails to give anything but 110% to ensure I would achieve the best outcome possible. All of her clinics are run with efficiency, professionalism, and above all with a personal emphasis on patient care. I cannot recommend London Hand Therapy highly enough!”

“You got me playing again and I will always sing your praises to all and sundry. I am grateful for your help when I most needed it.”

“In the wake of a badly broken wrist, I am extremely grateful for both the treatment and advice which I have received from Katherine. My wrist would not have recovered as quickly and as comprehensively without her.”

“...She has treated me in the past for injuries and I have always had a full recovery. I now see her for regular check-ups to make sure everything is working properly and that my hands are in top working condition. Katherine is an incredibly kind and generous person who works hard to support her patients in all situations. Thank you Katherine!”

“Thank you for all the support in helping my hand get better - your calming reassurance gave me the confidence to persevere.”

“As far as I am concerned, Katherine is simply the best in the business and an absolute expert in her field. She is able to pinpoint issues, treat effectively and explain with enormous clarity what the key problems are...”

“I have played the audition now and it went well. I am very happy that I have faced this challenge after not being able to play professionally for some time due to my injury. It's needless to say that without you I wouldn't have been able to make this progress and believe in myself. I'm so lucky for having you in my life.”

“Thank you again for your support Katherine. I know that my son is very much looking forward to seeing you again. Without you he wouldn't have been able to resume cycling and playing the guitar. Basically you saved his life. You’re an extraordinary woman!”

“You are an outstandingly wonderful, talented and dedicated person. To have full use of my thumb back is something I thought I wouldn’t have, so I am really happy and thankful. More than that - you are an exceptionally caring person. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

''The splint is really good! I’m still getting used to it as I have to hold the oboe slightly differently but today I played for several hours and it felt fine- no aches or pains! Thank you so much for all your help! Many thanks again for everything you have done for me.''

"Katherine Butler is an extraordinarily talented hand therapist with a holistic approach to treatment.

Katherine really is one of a kind and always goes above and beyond the normal call of duty. Could not feel more looked after and could not recommend her highly enough.

Katherine is a leading expert in her field with a specialisation in treating musicians such as myself.

Sensitive to musician's recovery needs. kind and professional whilst doing the job and encouraging me with exercises and cool pack in between appointments"

"I went to see Ms Kathrine Butler, concerned that my hypermobility was causing my fingers on my right hand to splay and my hand to twitch.

After 5 sessions I have seen great improvements in my hand.

Kathrine was empathetic and knowledgeable, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her services."