Hand Therapy: A Certified Hand Therapist Makes All the Difference
April 2, 2013Are you a new post-operative hand patient? Does hand arthritis limit your activities? Does it hurt to use the computer or even lift a cup of coffee? Perhaps you have been newly diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, or tendon or nerve injuries or fracture.
If so, we encourage you to come and see one of our certified hand therapists at either our West Haverstraw or Nyack Outpatient Occupational Therapy locations. Their care and expertise will undoubtedly help to alleviate your pain and improve your functioning.
According to the Hand Therapy Certification Commission, a certified hand therapist is a therapist who has a minimum of five years of clinical experience, including 4,000 hours or more in direct practice in hand therapy and has successfully passed a comprehensive test of advanced skills and theory in upper extremity rehabilitation. I’m proud to say that the CHT’s at Helen Hayes Hospital’s Outpatient Occupational Therapy Service average over 20 years experience.
Our hand therapy expertise includes, (but is not limited to!) the following:
•Remobilization after surgery of the shoulder, elbow, wrist or hand
•Management of open or sutured wounds (which prevents infection and promotes healing)
•Custom static and dynamic splinting
•Training in performance of daily life skills through adapted methods and equipment
•Patient education with digitally photographed home exercise programs
•Sensory re-education after nerve injury
•Management of acute or chronic pain
Equipment at our facility includes:
•Paraffin
•Fluidotherapy
•Ultrasound
•E Stim
•Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment
•Heated Therapeutic Pool
For an appointment at our West Haverstraw location, call 845-786-4194. For Nyack, call 845-786-4642.
Choosing a Certified Hand Therapist with access to the best equipment is really essential to your recovery. We look forward to playing a part in that recovery.
-Bethel H. Marcus, OTR/L, CHT
Outpatient Occupational Therapy Service
