Hand Therapy is hand-led (can’t let a bad pun go to waste) by both an Occupational Therapist & Certified Hand Therapist here at PEAK Physical Therapy.
Hand therapy is the art and science of evaluating and treating injuries and conditions of the upper extremity (shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist and hand). A hand therapist is one who, through advanced study and experience, specializes in treating individuals with conditions affecting the hands and upper extremity.
Hand Therapy is a specialized subset of Occupational Therapy, and uses a number of therapeutic interventions to help return a person to their highest level of function. It evolved from the need for a specialist with the knowledge and experience required to manage the challenging recovery of complex hand and upper extremity injuries.
Hand Therapy as performed by a Certified Hand Therapy (CHT) Specialist provides:
- Accurate assessments, immediate care and effective treatment to reduce treatment time
- A continuum of care eliminating the need for multiple medical providers
- Faster recovery results in decreased medical costs
- Functional outcomes ensuring a faster return to work and productive lifestyle
- The most comprehensive care for their patients.
To become a CHT, you need to be in the profession with at least three years of experience, plus 4,000 hours of hand therapy practice (upper extremity rehabilitation). Then pass the arduous exam. All done to give you the best outcome when you have pain or a problem with your hand, wrist, and/or upper extremity.
Hand therapists bridge the gap from medical management of upper extremity conditions to successful recovery, allowing individuals to function normally in their daily lives. Hand therapists provide non-operative interventions, preventative care and post-surgical rehabilitation for a wide variety of upper extremity disorders, from simple fingertip injuries to complex replanted extremities.
If you feel like you are losing a grip (sorry again) on life… a Hand Therapy Specialist may be the answer you are looking for but haven’t found. If you have an issue, reach out to us – we understand what’s it’s like to be there – but you don’t have to be there alone and for good… we got you!
To Learn more from the American Occupational Therapy Association about the topic of Occupational Therapy in Rehabilitation of the Hand, click here for an informative pdf.
