How Certified Hand Therapists Treat Hand Trauma
It’s estimated that almost 3.5 million injuries of the hand, wrist and arm are seen in US emergency rooms every year. While most trauma to the hand are work-related, upper extremity injuries also often occur at home, while playing sports, at school and even when out in public.
In this article, Detroit area board certified hand specialist Dr. Uzma Rehman explains how our certified hand therapists can help reduce or eliminate pain and restore mobility to the hand after hand trauma.
Causes & Types of Hand Trauma
The hand is one of the most complicated and intricate parts of the human body. It contains dozens of joints, ligaments, tendons, and nerves that all work together to grip, lift, and perform fine motor tasks with exceptional precision. A hand injury can be devastating – interfering with working, play, sports, and almost every aspect of everyday living.
“Trauma” to the hand (and acute hand injury due to a single event) can be an auto accident, fall, crush, laceration (cut), puncture, bite, or burn. It can result in a fracture (break), dislocation, ligament injury, or laceration causing tendon and/or nerve injury and even amputation. Prompt treatment after sustaining a severe hand trauma is critical to prevent loss of any limbs and preserve mobility in the injured extremity.
What to Do After Hand Trauma
Any time that a hand or finger is cut, crushed and/or pain or swelling persists, it is best to be evaluated by a hand specialist. X-rays can identify broken bones while an MRI will to be able to see the extent of soft tissue injuries. Hand wounds need to be cleaned out to prevent infection and stitches may be needed to close the wounds. Depending on the severity of the hand injury, surgery may also be needed.
Once the hand injury has been treated or repaired by the physician or surgeon, a certified hand therapist can rehabilitate the patient to preserve or restore function and mobility to the injured hand. Our certified hand therapists work closely with Dr. Rehman and the patient to provide a continuum of care. This often starts within days of the injury or surgery right through the patient’s return to work and/or a productive lifestyle.
What is a Certified Hand Therapist?
A hand therapist is an occupational therapist or physical therapist who has undergone advanced study to specialize in treating conditions affecting the hands and upper extremity. After additional years of study and experience, an occupational therapist (OT) or a physical therapist (PT) can obtain advanced certification as a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT).
A Certified Hand Therapist is an OT or PT with at least three years of experience, plus 4,000 hours of hand and upper extremity therapy in a rehabilitation practice. A CHT must pass a certification examination and must renew their credentials every five years through continued education and continuing participation in hand and upper extremity therapy.
What a Certified Hand Therapist Does
A Certified Hand Therapist works with hand and upper extremity injuries to ensure an optimal recovery. They work closely with the hand surgeon to provide a continuum of care for the patient. Their primary objectives are to alleviate pain, improve mobility and maximize patients’ function after injury or surgery.
The Certified Hand Therapist begins by assessing swelling, wounds, scars, sensitivity, range of motion (ROM), strength, coordination, and the impact on function in order to formulate a personalized therapy plan.
CHTs are trained create custom orthotic equipment – such as splints and braces – to protect the injured area during fracture, nerve and/or tendon repairs. CHTs also perform ongoing wound care to maximize healing of wounds and minimize scars, as well as prevent interference with regaining motion.
Certified Hand Therapists will work with the patient to help to get their range of motion (ROM) back, as well as their coordination and strength. They work with patients to prepare them for return to work or for getting back to normal daily tasks and other activities (such as sports or hobbies) that are meaningful to them.
Splinting, isometrics, isotonic strengthening, grip strengthening, exercises such as tendon glides, transverse friction massage, stretching (extension and flexion), iontophoresis, ultrasound, and desensitization techniques are just some of the therapy modalities that Certified Hand Therapists can use to restore comfort and mobility after hand trauma.
Certified Hand Therapists Macomb County
If you are suffering from a hand trauma, immediate treatment by a certified hand specialist like Dr. Rehman is crucial. Then, after the injury is repaired, ongoing treatment by a certified hand therapist can help speed healing, reduce or eliminate pain, and ensure the most thorough and rapid return your normally work, home and leisure activities.
