Who is a Certified Hand Therapist?

Hand injuries, due to the nature and complexity of hand structure, require great skill and expertise in caring for their recovery. Just as hand surgery is a specialty of medicine, hand therapy is a specialty of physical and occupational therapy. A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is an physical or occupational therapist who has a minimum of five years of clinical experience, including 4,000 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 years.

A certified hand therapist will often treat common hand problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome, fractures, trigger finger, contractures, and arthritic deformities. However, the true value of a CHT is clearly noted when complex conditions and surgeries requiring mircrovascular and microsurgical reconstructions or reattachments have been performed.

Hand Therapy is the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper quarter of the human body. Hand therapy is a merging of occupational therapy and the physical therapy theory and practice that combines comprehensive knowledge of the upper quarter, body function, and activity. Using specialized skills in assessment and treatment, hand therapists promote the goals of prevention of dysfunction, restoration of function, and/or reversal of the progression of pathology in order to enhance participation in life situations for individuals with upper quarter disease or injury.