04 Sep What is Certified Hand Therapy?
Certified hand therapy is the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper limb, which includes the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder girdle.
Have you ever suffered from pain at the base of your thumbs?
Maybe you experienced an unfortunate accident that impacted the movement of your fingers?
Are you at a loss on how to improve your shoulder motion after shoulder replacement surgery?
Certified hand therapy can help with all of these, as well as many other medical issues.
A certified hand therapist (CHT) is typically a physical or occupational therapist with at least three years of experience and 4,000 hours of working specifically with hands and upper extremities (arms). The need for specialized upper extremity and hand rehabilitation came about during World War II when surgeons were treating soldiers with upper extremity injuries. These surgeons worked closely with therapists and together they developed specialized programs to better rehabilitate soldiers with arm and hand damage.
The American Society of Hand Therapy (ASHT) was created in 1975, and over the next 15 years the ASHT prepared for the Inaugural Hand Therapy Certification Examination. In 1991, this examination was officially offered marking the first group of CHT’s.
A CHT can treat a mirage of upper extremity and hand conditions including:
- Arthritis and rheumatic diseases
- Developmental delays
- Dupuytren’s disease
- Fractures
- Nerve injures and conditions
- Neuromuscular techniques
- Tendon injuries and repairs
- Vascular disorders
- Wounds and scars
If you believe you may benefit from the treatment of a hand therapist, give us a call and schedule an evaluation with Kathy, or visit the Hand Therapy Certification Commission website to learn more about certified hand therapy techniques.
