A Hand Therapist is an occupational or physical therapist specializing in treating patients with shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand injuries.
- The therapy program starts with an initial evaluation, including range-of-motion (ROM), strength, soft tissue, sensation, coordination, skin integrity, pain, and swelling assessment.
- A personalized treatment plan is created to help patients regain function and return to work, social activities, sports, or other pre-injury activities.
- A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is a licensed therapist who has passed a national specialty exam and has demonstrated expertise in upper extremity rehabilitation.
- CHTs are required to have 4,000 hours of hands-on upper extremity orthopedic experience and a minimum of three years as a practicing clinician.
- Research shows that certified hand therapists achieve better rehabilitation outcomes due to their specialized knowledge and experience.