Our hands are an invaluable body part, constantly used at work, school, home, and elsewhere. A health condition affecting a hand can therefore get in the way of almost every daily task and every kind of recreation, from dressing and cooking to using a computer or playing a musical instrument. Moreover, since the hands are so complex, they can be injured in a myriad of different ways. The importance of the hands, and the variety of different conditions that can affect them, resulted in the development of certified hand therapy as a specialty within physical therapy.
A certified hand therapist uses a combination of specialized methods to help each patient get their strength, dexterity, and motor skills back and therefore get back to their normal routine faster and better. At JAG Physical Therapy, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania’s premier name in general and specialized PT, we offer hand therapy at many of our clinic locations for the benefit of our diverse patient population. Schedule your appointment now to get started with the best hand therapy in the region or read more about how CHT works below.
What is Certified Hand Therapy?
Certified hand therapy, or CHT, is one of the major certifications that a physical and occupational therapist can obtain during their career. To learn CHT, a therapist must undergo rigorous training on treating all possible ailments of the hand, wrist, and elbow. They then must gain sufficient clinical experience, and while practicing certified hand therapy, they will continually seek education on the latest methods and ideas in treating the upper extremities. These stringent requirements ensure that certified hand therapists can provide effective rehabilitation that specifically targets problems of the hands and fingers and the nearby body areas.
What Common Conditions Can Benefit from Hand Therapy?
Hand therapy is highly beneficial for people who have suffered injuries to the upper limb, but also for many other conditions. The techniques used in CHT can be instrumental to regaining full function after a sprain or fracture due to a workplace or sports-related accident. Even individuals with repetitive strain injuries, including common conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, can see improvement through hand therapy treatment.
CHT is helpful in cases of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other degenerative joint conditions, and can restore finger flexibility lost due to conditions like stenosing tenosynovitis (trigger finger) and Dupuytren’s contracture. It is also a major part of post-surgical rehabilitation for operations such as tendon or nerve repair in the hand and carpal tunnel release.
How Does Certified Hand Therapy Help You Regain Strength and Mobility?
Everyone’s hands are unique, from different health conditions to muscle memory for specific tasks. Therefore, CHT uses combinations of techniques tailored to each patient’s needs for recovery. However, there are certain hand therapy methods that are used in most cases because they are safe, noninvasive, and effective. Foremost of these is targeted exercise – your hand therapist will identify particular issues with your hand muscles, joints, and connective tissue and recommend a regimen that works on these. For example, stiffness in the index and middle fingers likely requires different kinds of exercise than pain at the base of the thumb.
Hand therapy also relies upon manual therapy, such as medical massage, to increase range of motion and reduce pain. Splints, braces, or other custom orthotic devices can be used to improve function during healing and prevent reinjuring the hand, and education on joint protection and ergonomics is also essential. All of this can be combined with functional training as necessary to adjust to doing everyday tasks with a hand that is still in the process of healing.
How Does Hand Therapy Help Restore Confidence and Independence?
The importance of the hands is not just that they are complicated body structures associated with many joints, blood vessels, and nerves. For many people, what they do with their hands defines a large part of who they are. Hand function is tied to confidence, independence, and quality of life, so rehabilitating a hand with CHT can be life-changing. At JAG PT, our hand therapists have helped people return to careers they have held for decades after a period of disability, begin cooking, painting, or playing tennis again, and simply do normal daily tasks without causing pain.
Why Choose JAG Physical Therapy for Certified Hand Therapy
Throughout the NY, NJ, and PA region, JAG PT leads the way in certified hand therapy and all other physical therapy specialties. Our experienced and compassionate therapists are here to help you get normal hand functioning back in the best, fastest, and safest way possible. All of our patients benefit from our state-of-the-art facilities and our custom rehabilitation plans. Schedule your appointment now to take the first step toward better hand strength, dexterity, and mobility.
