If you’re a hand therapist, you need to know your hand creases. Creases make splints more functional, and they’re helpful to include in your documentation. The 5 creases every hand therapist should know include Distal palmer crease Proximal palmer crease Thenar Crease Wrist crease MP and IP crease These are the basic wrist creases. Click […]
5 Hand Creases every hand therapist should know Read More »
I recently saw a patient in the hospital with radial nerve palsy, and was surprised that most doctors and therapists don’t know the best splinting options for this diagnosis. Radial nerve palsy results in wrist drop or the inability to extend the wrist and digits. The digits and wrist will still flex, because the median
Splinting for Radial Nerve Palsy (wrist drop) Read More »
If you’ve recently had a hand injury, the thought of doing hand therapy may be inconvenient, costly, or not seem worth it. You may have wondered, can hand therapy be done at home? Hand therapy can be done at home if there are no restrictions, impaired range of motion, minimal swelling, and the physician approves
Can hand therapy be done at home? Read More »
I’ll admit this isn’t the most exciting topic in OT, but writing good notes is how we show that the service we’re providing is skilled and necessary. In this article, I’ll discuss how to write better OT notes, interpret Medicare complexity levels, and how to respond to criticism. I’ll also provide examples and templates for
The ultimate guide to writing better OT notes Read More »
Starting a job in hand therapy can be challenging, especially when you don’t have experience. Some places won’t hire you, and it can be overwhelming with all the expectations of a new grad. In this article, I’ll discuss how you can get a job in hand therapy straight out of OT school. How I landed
7 tips on how to become a Hand Therapist right out of OT school Read More »
Ultrasound therapy has been used for decades by both PT and OT. It’s a skilled intervention that requires training, and when used right it can be beneficial for hand therapy. However in some circumstances, ultrasound is not effective and can be a poor use of time. In this article, I’ll discuss when US is beneficial,
Is ultrasound beneficial for Hand Therapy? Read More »
How do I reduce hand swelling, and when will it get better? These questions are asked by hand therapist on a daily basis. Most hand injuries cause swelling of some kind. This may include acute swelling after surgery or a recent injury. Swelling may also be chronic from a past injury. Sometimes swelling occurs for
How to reduce hand swelling [Hand Therapy basics] Read More »
Ulnar gutter splints are most commonly fabricated by hand therapists or surgeons. They have many uses, but are primarily used for boxer fractures (5th metacarpal fractures). The primary purpose of an Ulnar gutter splint is to keep the wrist and hand in a “safe position.” This should also allow the MP joints of the hand
Ulnar gutter splint uses and fabrication for hand therapy Read More »
I’m new to the hand therapy hero’s podcast, but listening to this podcast was inspirational for someone who has thought about starting a hand therapy business. JoAnn Keller tells her story about how she started a small practice in Seattle and expanded it. She tells of the challenges and tips that helped her along the
Starting a hand therapy practice? Listen to this first. Read More »
