What is hand therapy?

Maybe your doctor told you that you need to find a hand therapist. Or maybe you are doing a Google search, trying to figure out why your hand or elbow is hurting, and “hand therapy” keeps popping up as a suggestion. Whatever the reason is that you are asking…I am happy to fill you in!

Hand therapy is a misleading title. Certified hand therapists (CHTs) have been highly trained, more than a general OT or PT, to treat conditions from the hand to the shoulder. Yes, that’s right. Basically your entire arm. People often miss out on this specialized care for shoulder and elbow injuries because they think it is only therapy for their hands.

Who is a certified hand therapist?

The vast majority of CHTs are occupational therapists (86%). Occupational therapist…there is another confusing title! Occupational therapists (OTs) provide rehabilitation for clients of all ages to help them get back to the things that they want and need to do. Hand therapy is a specialty practice area within OT. Certified hand therapists have a minimum of 3 years of experience with at least 4,000 hours in rehabilitation for conditions from the hand to the shoulder. They also have to pass a very difficult exam. In short, they are extremely dedicated to what they do and have spent countless hours studying, going to continuing education courses, and learning all there is to know to help you get better.

Why should I go to a certified hand therapist?

One of the most common reasons people seek out a hand therapist is due to pain, weakness, or numbness in their hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder. The start of the problem may be gradual or sudden, but when it interferes with your daily activities, you need it to GO AWAY. The pain or numbness might interfere with something as simple as carrying your coffee mug or reaching into an overhead cabinet to get a plate.

The second reason people find a hand therapist is due to some type of trauma or injury such as falling and breaking a bone, deep cuts that go through nerves and tendons, tearing the rotator cuff in their shoulder, or after surgery for joint replacement to repair years of wear and tear.

How can I find a certified hand therapist (CHT)?

If you are in or near Christiansburg, Virginia, you already found one! I am a CHT and OT with 16 years of experience. My contact information is at the bottom of this post. Give me a call! I would love to talk to you about whatever it is that is bothering you and help you decide if hand therapy can help.

If you are not in this area, you can go to this website, type in your zip code, and find a CHT near you: https://www.htcc.org/find-a-cht

Stay tuned for my next post on what to expect from your first hand therapy appointment!