Hand Therapy
Apple Physical Therapy's hand program provides rehabilitation for a wide variety of hand and upper extremity injuries and disorders. All treatment programs are designed to address each patient's deficits and needs, and closely attend to each physician's orders. Apple's One-On-One treatment approach assures each patient receives customized and attentive care.
Diagnoses Treated by Hand Therapists
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Therapeutic Options
Apple's hand therapists offer a wide array of treatment and therapeutic options, and offer state of the art equipment to ensure your rehabilitative success. The following is an example of the therapeutic options available:
- Exercise
- Adaptive/Assistive devices
- ADL training
- Behavior management
- Compressive therapy
- Desensitization exercise
- Electrical Modalities
- Wound Care/Dressings/Topical Agents
- Manual Therapy
- Patient education
- Prosthetics
- Sensory re-education
- Ergonomic modification
- Assessment tools and standardized testing
- Strengthening
- Thermal modalities
- Work conditioning/retraining
Certified Hand Therapists
A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is an occupational therapist or physical therapist who has a minimum of five (5) years of clinical experience, including 4000 hours or more in direct practice in hand therapy. In addition, the Certified Hand Therapist has successfully passed a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper quarter rehabilitation. Because of changes in the profession, every CHT is required to demonstrate continued professional development and competency by recertifying every five (5) years.
Benefits of Working with a CHT
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Hand Therapists have the highest level of competencey
People value the use of their hands and any loss of function through injury or accident may have a devastating effect on their lives. Anyone with an injury wants the very best treatment to assure maximal recovery. The Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) credential offers assurance to the public that the therapist has achieved the highest level of competency in the profession and stays up to date with practice in the field. -
Hand Therapists have complex, technical knowledge
The intricate anatomy of the arm and hand frequently requires very delicate surgery, often with microscopic techniques. The technical complexity of these kinds of surgeries necessitates a high level of competency by therapists with advanced skills in upper quarter rehabilitation. Therapists must be knowledgeable about these advanced surgical techniques and postoperative therapy programs to become a CHT. They must also remain current with changes in hand therapy practice. -
Rigorous standards for Hand Therapists
Certification is voluntary and difficult to attain. It involves meetings rigorous standards, developing a long-range career path, and acquiring the advanced study and training required to pass the certification examination. CHT's are therapist who demonstrated a personal dedication to the profession of hand therapy and a desire for advanced competency; they bring to their work a commitment and dedication to reach and maintain the highest standards in their profession.
