06/17/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/17/2021 08:14
Hand therapy is the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper limb, which includes the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder girdle. A hand therapist is a physical therapist or occupational therapist who has advanced continuing education, clinical experience and passage of board examination by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission to become a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT).
A CHT will use joint mobilization/manipulation techniques, soft tissue mobilization/release techniques, lymph drainage techniques, therapeutic exercise, a variety of passive modalities, over the counter and custom hand splint fabrication, kinesiotaping, joint protection/energy conservation education, and ergonomics to treat a variety of hand/upper extremity disorders and post operative procedures. Common diagnoses include post hand and wrist fracture, flexor and extensor tendon repairs, nerve entrapments such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis such as DeQuervain's tenosynovitis