Hands In Motion

2025 Vargas Award Recipient

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Lisa Michael, the 2025 AAHS Vargas International Hand Therapist Teaching Award recipient. Lisa is an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who traveled to St. Lucia to share her knowledge and skills in an underserved area. She shares with us what it was like evaluating and treating patients in St Lucia, how she provided education to the local staff and is able to stay connected with them from afar and how support from AAHS made this trip possible.

Lisa Michael (Cyr), OTD, OTR/L, CHT graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Occupational Therapy, then returned to school in 2012 to attain her Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD). She has been a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) since 1996, and currently works in an outpatient satellite for Yale New Haven Health Services, helping to rehabilitate people who experience traumatic orthopedic related injuries to their hands, wrists, and elbows. She is adjunct faculty or SCSU.

Lisa is very active in the hand therapy community and is a member of AAHS, ASHT, and AOT. She has lectured both nationally and internationally on various hand therapy topics and has volunteered in 5 missions with the Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation to help treat Guatemalan children with hand or arm injuries. She also participated in professional surgeon/ therapist conferences and assisted with community outreach and teaching local therapists various hand therapy techniques while there.

In 2025, Lisa travelled with the Hand Help team to St. Lucia as the recipient of the AAHS Vargas Award. She treated post-op patients and educated and co-treated patients with the local hospital physiotherapists. She also led an orthosis fabrication and kinisiotape lab for local therapists. Lisa has published a book chapter and authored/ co-authored several peer reviewed journal articles.

In her spare time, Lisa loves to hike with her dog, bike, kayak, and travel.

The views and opinions expressed in the Hands in Motion podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of ASHT. Appearance on the podcast does not imply endorsement of any products, services or viewpoints discussed.

Research Collaborations

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Sarah Doerrer, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who is devoting most of her time these days to academia and research. She shares with us how she is connecting with clinicians in the community to collaborate on community-engaged research. We discuss the benefits to these collaborations, but also some of the barriers to clinical research and how to navigate those barriers.

Sarah Doerrer, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, CLT graduated with her Masters in OT in 2001 from Misericordia University and her PhD in OT in 2019 from Nova Southeastern University. She is currently an assistant professor at George Washington University and worked in clinical practice for 22 years. She is a Certified Hand Therapist and Certified Lymphedema Therapist. Dr. Doerrer serves on the Research Division of the American Society of Hand Therapists and is the incoming Research Division chair and serves as the Education Chair for the Capital Hand Therapy Association. She has received two foundation grants for her dissertation research “The Impact of Shoulder Pathology on Individuals with Distal Radius Fracture” and received a grant from the American Hand Foundation for her clinical trial “Impact of Early ADL Participation on Functional Outcomes Post Distal Radius Fracture”. Dr. Doerrer has most recently been awarded the Hand in Hand Grant from AOTF-ASHT-AHTF and the Clinical Research Award from the American Hand Surgery Foundation for her work on post distal radius education. She is also a co-investigator on a Department of Education, Disability Innovation Fund grant. Dr. Doerrer has had multiple publications in the Journal of Hand Therapy and has published two book chapters. She is a reviewer for the Journal of Hand Therapy, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and OT Journal of Research.

EDS and Hypermobility

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Saba Kamal, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who has taken a special interest in treating patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) and hypermobility. She shares with us how patients are diagnosed with EDS or hypermobility and how we as upper extremity therapists can educate these patients on joint protection, stability and lifelong management.

Saba Kamal is an occupational therapist and a Certified Hand Therapist. She graduated from OT School in India and is currently certified to practice in the US, UK and Europe. Saba currently resides and practices as a healthcare entrepreneur and hand and upper extremity therapist in the US. She has over three decades of experience spanning clinical practice, healthcare education and professional leadership. She has delivered talks at national and international conferences, collaborating closely with surgeons and therapists to advance the field of hand and upper extremity rehabilitation.

Saba’s contributions include leadership roles in professional societies (initiated and chaired HTA-CA conferences 2011-2019), the development of innovative treatment approaches, and dedicated mentorship to students and clinicians. Most recently, she sold her successful therapy practices and completed a Healthcare Leadership certificate at Johns Hopkins University. Saba has also written various articles and is the author of Treating Musicians as Athletes available on Amazon and B&N.

In addition to continuing to educate therapists through her Hand-On courses with Advanced Rehab Seminars, Saba is also working on several hand therapy-related inventions aimed at bringing innovative solutions to the market

Lymphedema and UE Therapy

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 04:00:00 -0400

We are joined by Stephanie Hassler, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who is also a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. Stephanie shares with us what lymphedema is and how she combined her background as a hand therapist to address the effects of lymphedema. We discuss early recognition and practical treatment strategies to integrate into practice.

Stephanie Hassler, MS, OTR/L, CLT-LANA, CHT works as an outpatient occupational therapist in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. She earned her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from Misericordia University in 2014. Stephanie began working in an outpatient orthopedic-based hand therapy setting following graduation. She went on to become a Certified Lymphedema Therapist in 2018, achieved Lymphology Association of North America certification in 2019, and became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2020. She continues to practice in an outpatient therapy setting, treating a mixed caseload of upper and lower extremity lymphedema as well as upper extremity injuries.

Remote Therapeutic Monitoring

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Jessie Perchaluk, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who has taken a special interest in learning more about and implementing remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) into her practice. Jessie shares with us the various ways that we can utilize RTM as an adjunct to the care we currently provide and how we can stay connected to our patients.

Jessie Perchaluk, OTD, MS, OTR/L, CHT, CLT is an occupational therapist at NovaCare Rehabilitation (a division of Select Medical), and a core adjunct faculty member at Thomas Jefferson University in their hybrid MSOT program, as well as adjunct instructor at the Medical University of South Carolina’s hybrid OTD program. She is a board-certified hand therapist and lymphedema therapist specializing in upper extremity and oncological rehabilitation, balancing full-time clinical practice with graduate-level teaching in functional anatomy, clinical skills, and upper extremity rehabilitation.

With over eight years of experience, Jessie is passionate about delivering personalized, evidence and data informed care in order to restore function and improve quality of life. She is equally dedicated to advancing the profession through education, mentorship, and research. Jessie leads student fieldwork and capstone initiatives across Pennsylvania and Delaware for Select Medical, to which she has been nationally and locally recognized for her work.

Jessie also serves on AOTA’s Commission on Education as the fieldwork educator representative, contributing to national education policy and best practice initiatives. She combines her clinical knowledge and passion for furthering evidence and data informed care by continuing to be actively involved in ongoing research projects. Jessie is further advancing her knowledge in healthcare at Brown University in their Masters of Healthcare Leadership.

When she is not working, Jessie enjoys spending time with her husband and three daughters.

Atomic Advocacy

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 04:00:00 -0400

We are excited to welcome our guest on this episode, Danielle Sparks. Danielle is our 2025-2026 ASHT president. During her incoming presidential address at the Annual Meeting, Danielle challenged us to consider how we can be advocates for our specialty and our patients. There are many challenges we face daily, but she shares with us how small, atomic changes can have a lasting effect.

Guest Bio:

Danielle Sparks, DHS, MOT, OTR, CHT is a highly experienced occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist with a strong clinical background in upper extremity rehabilitation. With over 15 years in the field, Danielle has spent her career at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center, where she has served as the Director of Therapy since 2017.

Danielle graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2007 with a Biology degree. She earned a Master of Occupational Therapy in 2009 and then post professionally a Doctorate of Health Science in 2017, both from the University of Indianapolis. Danielle earned her Certified Hand Therapist credential in 2015.

Passionate about advocacy and legislative and regulatory aspects of practicing hand therapy, Danielle has been a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists since 2012 and has been a volunteer in the Practice Division since 2017, serving as the chair from 2020-2023 and currently is serving in the ASHT Presidential line 2023-2027. Currently, Danielle is the current President for ASHT.

Danielle enjoys attending courses related to upper extremity rehabilitation and the opportunity to learn from and interact with colleagues. When not involved in work related activities, Danielle enjoys traveling, kayaking, hiking, golfing, and spending time with family and her two German Shepherds.

Harnessing Social Media in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Tara Packham, an occupational therapist who has worked for many years in upper extremity rehabilitation and is now educating the next generation of occupational therapists. Tara recognizes the impact social media has had on knowledge mobilization and she shares with us how clinicians, researchers and educators are utilizing social media and other digital platforms to educate their colleagues, patients and students.

Guest Bio: Tara Packham, PhD, OTReg(Ont) is an occupational therapist with over 25 years of clinical experience in hand and upper limb rehabilitation, and an associate professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario Canada. Tara’s program of research focuses on assessing and addressing persistent pain, and continuing to advance the global field of hand rehabilitation. She is passionate about moving evidence into practice and helping therapists to adopt and apply new research to advance clinical care. Tara has published and presented extensively for both hand rehabilitation and pain management audiences on persistent pain conditions impacting the upper extremity. She currently serves on the executive committee of the Special Interest Group for CRPS at the International Association for the Study of Pain, on the editorial board of the Journal of Hand Therapy, and as Editor-in-Chief at Hand Therapy (official journal of the British Association for Hand Therapists and European Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy).

HTCC Practice Analysis

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Marty Walsh, Keri Landrieu and Karol Young to discuss the HTCC Practice Analysis. The examination to become a Certified Hand Therapist isn’t put together overnight. There is a lot of work that goes into developing the examination questions, ensuring they are testing knowledge and application of practice standards in hand therapy. Marty, Keri and Karol share with us how HTCC develops the exam blueprint from feedback received from hand therapists, how questions are developed and evaluated for their rigor, accuracy and consistency, and how the examination is maintained year after year.

Guest Bios:

Martin Walsh, OTR/L, CHT has been the Executive Director of the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC) since 2013. He joined the HTCC staff in 2004 as the Manager of Examination Services. He has been involved with HTCC as a volunteer since 1998, serving several terms as an item writer and then as an item writer mentor. Marty was appointed to the Examination Committee in 2002 and has been actively involved in all aspects of examination development. A Certified Hand Therapist since 1992, Marty received most of his training and experience in hand therapy at a regional trauma center in San Francisco working with patients with complex injuries to the hand. Marty has also volunteered his time working with patients and teaching therapists in South America. He has traveled to Colombia, Bolivia and Peru and has been active with the organization Resurge. In 2010 Marty received the Paul Brand Award of Professional Excellence from the American Society of Hand Therapists.

Keri Landrieu, LOTR, CHT became an occupational therapist in 1989, leading her to a hand therapy fellowship and her Certified Hand Therapist certification in 1994. Her experience in hand therapy includes working with her mentor surgeon in his practice and 15 years as a partner in a private hand therapy practice. Her dedication to the field extends to the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC), spanning nearly three decades, starting as an item writer in 1996, leading to a board membership six years later, and various leadership roles. For the past 14 years, Keri has directed HTCC’s exam operations, managing the item bank and exam processes. This year, she is honored to serve as HTCC's President.

Karol S. Young, OTD, OTR/L, CHT has been an occupational therapist since 1990 and a Certified Hand Therapist since 1997. After working in a variety of outpatient settings, her passion for lifelong learning led her to the OT program at Thomas Jefferson University where she completed her doctoral degree in 2015. Karol has authored publications for the Hand Therapy Certification Committee and the American Society of Hand Therapists, contributed to several textbooks, and is an adjunct instructor and guest lecturer in several graduate level occupational therapy programs. Karol is an active member of the American Society of Hand Therapists and is a board member for the Hand Therapy Certification Commission, serving as the Chair of the Practice Analysis Committee. Karol currently is in private practice outside of Asheville, NC.

2025 Pediatric Specialty Day Preview

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by the 2025 ASHT Pediatric Specialty Day co-chairs, Emily Ho and Meagan Pehnke. They give us all of the inside information on what we can expect at this year’s Pediatric Specialty Day. They discuss the layout of the meeting, the educational offerings, and the opportunities for networking with our fellow pediatric upper extremity specialists. Welcome to Hands in Motion, Emily and Meagan.

Guest bios:

Emily S. Ho, PhD, MEd, OT Reg. (Ont.) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. She is a clinician investigator and an advanced practice clinician on the SickKids Upper Limb Pediatric Team (SKULPT) at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.

Meagan Pehnke, MS, OTR/L, CHT, CLT is an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She serves as a clinical specialist within the OT department and a researcher on the Hand and Upper Extremity Orthopaedics Team, with a focused interest in congenital differences and brachial plexus birth injuries (BPBI). Meagan specializes in pediatric hand therapy and plays an integral role in both the Brachial Plexus and Orthopaedics Clinics, providing expert care and contributing to the advancement of clinical research.

Upper Extremity Rehab for the Female Athlete Across the Lifespan

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Mike Mueller, an occupational therapist, Certified Hand Therapist and exercise scientist who has taken a special interest in treating female athletes across the lifespan. We discuss unique characteristics of female athletes, common injuries we are seeing in this population and how we as upper extremity specialists can help to return these athletes to their sport.

Guest Bio: Mike Mueller, OTR, CHT is a staff hand therapist at Rothman Orthopaedics in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has over 30 years of experience in upper extremity rehabilitation in a variety of settings. He is an occupational therapist, Certified Hand Therapist and an exercise scientist with extensive experience utilizing the kinetic chain approach and its application to upper extremity rehabilitation and performance. He has a special area of interest in the management of the athlete’s upper extremity injuries and has extensive experience with athletes from the youth to the professional levels. Mike has presented on multiple topics at state, national and international conferences. He is a member of The American Society of Hand Therapists, American Occupational Therapy Association, American College of Sports Medicine, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and American Baseball Biomechanics Society.

2025 Annual Meeting Preview

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0400

Things are a little different on this episode of Hands in Motion. As you may already notice, Cara Smith is in the guest seat today and will be the one answering the questions, not asking them! Cara is the Annual Meeting Committee Chair for this year’s ASHT Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, UT. On this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of the conference, including educational Pre-Conference Institutes, special guests, poster sessions and, of course, the fun social and networking events we have planned!

Guest Bio: Cara has been practicing as a physical therapist since 2007 and became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2013. Cara is the Hand Therapy Program Coordinator at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The majority of her clinical practice has been in pediatric orthopedics, working alongside surgeons in multidisciplinary clinics taking care of children with congenital and acquired hand conditions as well as traumatic injuries. Cara serves on several divisions and committees with ASHT and is one of the co-hosts for the ASHT podcast, “Hands in Motion”.

Addressing Substance Use Disorder as a Hand and Upper Extremity Therapist

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Kimberly Masker, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapy, and Tauni Bird, also an occupational therapist who have been researching and educating others on treating patients in the context of substance use. They share with us what substance use disorder is, the stigma that surrounds these patients, and what we as hand therapists can do to mitigate that stigma and provide harm reduction. Welcome to Hands in Motion, Kim and Tauni.

Guest bio: Kimberly Masker, OTD, OTR/L, CHT received her undergraduate degree from ETSU in 1995, her Master’s in OT degree from Washington University in 2000, and received her post-professional doctorate in OT from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) in 2015. She earned her Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) specialty certification in 2007. She is an assistant professor in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at East Tennessee State University. Kim’s clinical practice is as senior therapist at The Hand Center at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Tennessee. Her professional interests have focused on hypermobility, wound care, upper extremity multi-trauma, substance use disorders and stigma, and treatment of musicians. She enjoys writing for various hand therapy related publications and blogs. She serves as a consultant for Axogen on studies such as pain and peripheral nerve injuries. She currently serves as Secretary Treasurer of the Northeast District of the Tennessee Occupational Therapy Association. She has volunteered for many years with the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT), is co-editor of the 4th edition of the CHT Test Prep Book and Clinical Reference (2022), and is the current President of ASHT.

Tauni Bird, OTD, OTR/L (she/her) is an occupational therapist and hand and upper extremity therapist. She is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists, American Association for Hand Surgery, and American Occupational Therapy Association. She is interested in harm reduction and health equity. Her work on these topics includes conference presentations, non-research articles, and special grant projects.

Clinical Practice Guideline: Distal Radius Fractures

Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

We are joined by physical therapists Saurabh Mehta and Christos Karagiannopoulos, who – along with a team of therapists and surgeons – developed a clinical practice guideline for rehabilitation following distal radius fractures. They share with us how a CPG is developed, how the evidence is synthesized and how they came to their conclusions based on the evidence to provide recommendations for evaluation, interventions and prognosis.

Guest Bios:

Dr. Karagiannopoulos is a full-time associate professor at DeSales University DPT program with a current line of research on the assessment and management of wrist sensorimotor control impairment. He has earned a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Education, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology from Temple University. His master’s in physical therapy was earned from MCP-Hahnemann University (Drexel University) in 1999. Christos has dedicated his 20+ years clinical practice in orthopedic physical therapy and the rehabilitation of the upper extremity as a Certified Hand Therapist. He has dedicated his clinical research line on the wrist sensorimotor control impairment, developing the active wrist joint position sense test and its psychometric properties. Dr. Karagiannopoulos has published his most recent research work in the Journal of Hand Therapy, and he co-authored the most recent 2024 APTA Clinical Practice Guidelines on distal radius fracture rehabilitation in the JOSPT. He has also co-authored the 2020 AAOS Clinical Practice Guidelines for distal radius fracture management. Dr. Karagiannopoulos has lectured at various local, national, and international symposiums. He currently serves on the APTA Academy of Hand & Upper Extremity as a program co-chair and a member of the research committee. He is also a member of the Journal of Hand Therapy editorial board.

Dr. Mehta is a board-certified specialist in geriatric physical therapy and the Director of Research for the College of Health Sciences at East Tennessee State University. He has collaborated and published multiple data-based articles and systematic reviews in upper extremity rehabilitation, healthy aging, and improving physical functions in the elderly. Dr. Mehta recently led the efforts to develop ICF-based clinical practice guidelines for the rehabilitation of distal radius fractures. He is the chair of the Aging Research and Geriatric Rehabilitation Networking Group of the American College of Rehabilitation Medicine

What is the Vargas Award?

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Hands in Motion, we are joined by Thomas Berger — the recipient of the 2024 American Association for Hand Surgery Vargas International Hand Therapy Teaching Award. As a recipient of this prestigious award, Thomas traveled to Guatemala to provide hand therapy services, as well as educate local occupational and physical therapists on upper extremity rehabilitation. Thomas shares with us his experience serving in Guatemala and the support he received from AAHS.

Guest Bio: Thomas Berger, DPT, CHT, is a physical therapist and Certified Hand Therapist with over 20 years of clinical experience. He works at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL in the hand and upper limb clinic collaborating with a team of physicians and advanced practice providers. Thomas also serves as faculty for the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency at Mayo Clinic Florida, where he delivers annual education focused on the upper extremity.

Thomas has shared his expertise at both national and international forums, including the annual meetings of American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS) and American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT). Thomas is the recipient of the AAHS 2023 Vargas Award, which he was honored to use for a medical mission trip withGuatemala Healing Hands Foundation. He presently holds positions on the ASHT Nominations Committee and the AAHS Vargas Committee.

Looking to the future with sustainability practices

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0400

While in Washington, DC for the IFSSH and IFSHT Triennial Congress, Stephanie and Cara had the pleasure of sitting down with Lisa Newington, a physiotherapist and hand therapist from London to discuss sustainability and the efforts that the UK is taking toward this. Lisa shares with us how their medical system is addressing sustainability and how we as hand therapists can do our part when treating our patients.

Guest Bio: Lisa joined the Barts Bone and Joint Health team in September 2023. She is an ac-credited hand therapist (British Association of Hand Therapists) and has combined research and clinical practice throughout her career. Lisa continues to work clinically at Barts Health NHS Trust, having previously worked as an advanced practice hand therapist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust.

She is involved in national and international hand therapy research and mentors re-search active allied health professionals through NIHR and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy mentorship schemes.

Lisa was recently appointed to the Scientific Committee of the European Federation for Societies of Hand Therapy (EFSHT) and has previously chaired the British Association of Hand Therapists Clinical Evidence Committee. Lisa is a Deputy Director for the London Centre for Work and Health and an Editorial Board Member for the journal Hand Therapy.

Lisa completed her PhD at the MRC Life course Epidemiology Unit at the University of Southampton through an NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship (2016-2019) and held a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship with Imperial Biomedical Research Centre and Imperial Health Charity (2020-2023).

IFSSH-IFSHT Triennial Meeting, Washington DC

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we are joined by Stacey Doyon, President-Elect of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy. Stacey shares with us information about IFSHT, their mission and how they are connecting upper extremity therapists across the globe. We also briefly discuss the upcoming IFSSH-IFSHT Triennial Congress being held March 24-28, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Silent Auction Link: https://ifsht.org/awards_grants/silent-auction/

Guest Bio: I have served on the board of the American Society of Hand Therapists from 1999-2008 which includes the following positions: Past president (2008), President (2007), President Elect (2006), Vice President (2005), Director of Advocacy (2004), Secretary/Treasurer (2003), Secretary/Treasurer elect (2002), Division Director of Alliances (2001), Division Director of Member Services (2000) and Board Member at Large (1999-2000). From 2008-2010 I was the Chairperson for the 2010 International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy, for the American Society of Hand Therapists. In 2011 I became a board member for the Hand Therapy certification Commission holding the position of Treasurer in 2017-2024. I was a committee member since from 2006-2024. I have also served on several committees for IFSHT which include the finance committee for 2007, 2018-2019, Abstract review committee for 2013 and 2016 and then the nominations committee in 2016. In 2019-2022 I was Treasurer for IFSHT and in 2022-present I became President-Elect. I will go on to be President of IFSHT at the end of the Triennial congress in Washington DC 2025.

ASHT International Committee

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Lauren DeTullio and Preston Lockwood, both occupational therapists and Certified Hand Therapists who serve on the ASHT International Committee. They share with us the work that the committee is doing to spread knowledge of hand and upper extremity therapy across the globe and specifically about a recent trip to Columbia where they had the opportunity to present didactic and hands-on education.

Guest bios:

Lauren DeTullio, OTR/L, CHT, is an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist with over 20 years of clinical experience. She is the Regional Director of the Philadelphia Hand to Shoulder Center and the Director of the Hand Rehabilitation Foundation. She is an adjunct professor in the Occupational Therapy program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lauren has co-authored chapters in the seventh edition of Rehabilitation of the Hand and Upper Extremity, in the third edition of Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation - A Practical Guide, and in the first edition of Fractures and Injuries of the Distal Radius and Carpus. She is a co-chairman and has served as a regular faculty member for the annual Philadelphia Hand Symposium Surgery and Rehabilitation of the Hand and Upper Extremity. Lauren has volunteered for ASHT on the Awards Committee, Board Intern and most recently the International Committee.

Preston W Lockwood, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, is a passionate and dedicated occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) with a strong commitment to advancing the field of hand and upper extremity therapy. With extensive experience in clinical practice, Preston is deeply invested in clinical education, empowering the next generation of therapists through mentorship and knowledge-sharing. As an advocate for global collaboration, Preston is eager to connect with international hand therapy communities for knowledge exchange, furthering the evolution of the profession worldwide. Driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact, Preston is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of hand therapy, advocating for innovation, and contributing to the continuous growth and improvement of the profession.

The Problematic PIP Joint

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Alex Kelsheimer, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in upper extremity surgery, to discuss injuries that many of us find difficulty treating — PIP joint injuries. He shares his approach to addressing injuries at the PIP joint and how surgeons and therapists can collaborate with the patient to achieve an optimal outcome.

Guest Bio: Dr. Kelsheimer is a hand & upper extremity orthopedic surgeon with Shoreline Orthopaedics in Holland, Michigan. Prior to practicing in Holland, he was practicing in St. Louis, Missouri for three years. He received his medical degree from Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. His post-graduate orthopedic residency training was completed at St. Luke’s Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis, MO. He then completed his hand and upper extremity fellowship at the prestigious Florida Orthopaedic Institute in partnership with Tampa General Hospital.

ASHT Research Community

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Lori Algar and Katie Loomis, who both serve on ASHT’s Research Division. They share with us the results of a recent research community survey that the division conducted to better understand the needs of our members when it comes to clinical research.

Guest Bios: Lori Algar OTD, OTR/L, CHT is an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who works for Orthopaedic Specialty Group PC in Fairfield CT. She has been specializing in the outpatient treatment of individuals with orthopedic injuries to the upper extremity since 2006. She earned her clinical doctorate in occupational therapy from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in 2013. Lori joined ASHT's Research Division following the completion of her clinical doctorate program and is currently the Research Division Director. She has many publications in the Journal of Hand Therapy and Journal of Hand Surgery, including a randomized clinical trial completed during her clinical work.

Katie Loomis, MA, OTR/L, CHT, is a PhD candidate in the Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California and a research assistant in the Musculoskeletal Sonography and Occupational Performance Laboratory. She has 12 years of clinical and research experience in hand therapy, is an active member of the ASHT Research Division, and an ad hoc reviewer for several rehabilitation-oriented journals. Katie’s research interests center on facilitating large-scale, collaborative practice-based research to better understand and quantify the multidimensional process of upper extremity rehabilitation, and to advance care effectiveness and individualization.

Sustainability in Therapy

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Ben Mortenson and Janet Craik, both occupational therapists in Canada who have done extensive work on sustainability in healthcare. They share with us the pillars of sustainability and how we as therapists can do our part to ensure economic, social and environmental sustainability.

Guest Bios: Janet Craik holds a Bachelor of Science degree in occupational therapy from Queen's University and a Master's degree in Rehabilitation Science from the University of Toronto. Her involvement as an occupational therapist includes many years as a front-line practitioner, manager, author, educator, and former Executive Director for the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. She is deeply interested in exploring how to improve health systems in Canada to be more sustainable. As an instructor at the University of Toronto, she is involved with an interprofessional education elective on climate change and teaches an elective on sustainable health in occupational therapy to ensure students have knowledge and resources needed to identify climate change-related risks and take equitable, evidence-based action to promote health, well-being, and occupational participation. In addition to instructing at the University of Toronto, she is the Rehabilitation Lead for CASCADES (www.cascadescanada.ca) and the Executive Director for the International Cognitive Approaches Network (www.icancoop.org).

Ben Mortenson has been an occupational therapist since 1991. He is Professor and Head of the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia. He held a New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2016-2021). He is a principal investigator at the GF Strong Rehabilitation Research Program and International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries. He is an experienced mixed-methods researcher with over 200 peer-reviewed publications and he has over $7M in funding as a principal investigator or co-PI and almost $50M as co-investigator. He has had over 300, peer reviewed abstracts accepted at national and international conferences. He has provided research supervision to over 130 trainees. His work is centered on four main populations: assistive technology users, informal and formal caregivers, individuals with spinal cord injury, and residents in long-term care. His research focuses on four overlapping areas: assistive technology, social participation, accessibility and sustainability. He was the 2021 recipient of the Award for Innovative Practice from the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy (CAOT). In 2022 he was inducted as a CAOT Fellow.

Exercise Prescription in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 11:45:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by April O’Connell to discuss exercise dosing for patients who have sustained injuries of their upper extremity. She shares with us factors that should be considered when designing an exercise program for a patient and how to progress them through their plan of care to achieve their goals and beyond.

Guest Bio: April O’Connell, OTR/L, CHT, ACSM, is an occupational therapist at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills, CA. She works with a variety of sports teams including the NFL, MLB and NBA and recently spoke at ASHT and AAHT on Rehabilitation of the Overhead Athlete. She is one of the main contributors to the fellowship program for hand and upper extremity rehabilitation as well as the co-director for Cedars Sinai Hand Symposium.

April got her start as the Clinical Specialist in the Hand and Upper Extremity Therapy Department at NYU Langone Health. She has lectured to orthopedic surgeons and therapists nationally and internationally in current concepts of orthopedic rehabilitation of the upper extremity. Some of her most recent lectures include being a guest speaker for Dr. Radio on Sirius Satellite on topics for rehabilitation of the hand and upper extremity as well as injuries to the overhead athlete. In addition, she has presented on Flexor Tendon Repair Advancement at AAOS in 2015 and was later asked to speak at the ASSH national conference in 2016 and ASHT in 2017. She recently presented her latest research at the ASHT National Conference on flexor tendon rehabilitation in 2019.

April is a founding member of the NYU Langone Golf and Pitching Labs and was the head hand therapist for the first successful bilateral hand and face allotransplantation. She earned her Occupational Therapy degree at Boston University, is a Certified Hand Therapist and is certified by the American Council of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a Clinical Exercise Specialist.

Wide-Awake Procedures: Not Just for Tendons

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 04:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Paul Sibley to discuss wide-awake surgical procedures in the upper extremity. He shares with us the various procedures he is performing, the benefits of wide-awake surgery and what we as hand therapists can expect when patients are referred to us following these procedures.

Guest Bio: Dr. Paul A. Sibley is an orthopedist in Allentown, Penn. and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest and Lehigh Valley Health Network-Highland Avenue. He received his medical degree from A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and received his post-graduate training at Ohio University-Grandview Medical Center in Dayton, OH. He has many published research publications and has co-written chapters in Wide Awake Hand Surgery, Volumes 1 and 2.

Hand Therapy Education in Ukraine

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Nate Short, a hand and upper extremity therapist who had an incredible opportunity to travel to Ukraine and provide education on upper extremity rehabilitation for Ukrainian therapists. He shares with us his experience of traveling to a country actively involved in conflict and how his team provided training on a variety of topics related to evaluation and treatment of upper extremity conditions while also navigating language barriers and other unique obstacles encountered when serving abroad.

Guest bio: Nathan Short, PhD, OTD, CHT, FAOTA, is a Professor of Occupational Therapy at Abilene Christian University and practices at West Texas Rehab. He is the author of Functional Anatomy for Occupational Therapy and its companion text, OT Guide to Goniometry and MMT.

Hand in Hand with Ukraine: https://handinhandukraine.org.uk

Optimizing Hand Therapy Post Flexor Tendon Repairs

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode we are joined by Alex Mackenzie, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist. We discuss flexor tendon rehabilitation, how things have changed over the years to optimize outcomes for our patients, how to progress patients through their rehabilitation, and important factors to consider when treating these injuries.

Guest Bio: Alexandra MacKenzie OTR/L, CHT is the Clinical Lead at Hospital For Special Surgery and she serves on the board of the American Hand Therapy Foundation. Her clinical passions are brachial plexus/ nerve injuries, flexor tendon rehabilitation, and mentorship. She helped develop an AOTA-accredited hand therapy fellowship program at HSS and enjoys being the clinical mentor for that program. She has written chapters and presented nationally on a variety of hand therapy related topics. Global health and global healthcare education are interests of hers and she has participated in short-term medical missions to Guatemala, Honduras and Fiji.

ASHT Leadership Development Program

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -0400

This is a special two-for-one episode as we are joined by four guests to discuss the ASHT Leadership Committee and the Leadership Development Program. Juliet Steffe and Theresa Hallenen - the chair and vice chair of the Leadership Development Committee, respectively - share with us the work the committee is focused on and how the Leadership Development Program was designed and carried out to support emerging leaders in the field of hand and upper extremity therapy. We also have the opportunity to talk with Brooke Ochoa and Laura Carlos who were members of the first cohort of the Leadership Development Program. They share their experience participating in the program and how they plan to use the knowledge and experience they gained to work toward achieving their personal and professional goals.

Guests:

Laura L Carlos, MOT, OTR/L, CHT, CEAS I, is a bilingual Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist. Laura has been practicing since 2018. Laura currently works as a Level II therapist at UChicago Medicine hospital in the outpatient orthopedic clinic. Laura has been serving the southside of Chicago a little over a year and a half. Laura previously worked at Schwab Rehabilitation hospital in the outpatient setting with a mix caseload of neurological and orthopedic conditions. Laura helped co-create the DEI Media Literacy Committee at Schwab which looked to review and assess different types of media sources and hold discussions on how it impacts our roles/interactions with our fellow co-workers and the patients we serve. Laura is also a co-founder of DiversOTy Chicago Collective which is a local organization looking to support potential OT students/current OT students and practitioners of diverse backgrounds, increase awareness of the OT profession, and support Chicagoland communities. Laura is also an active member of the DEI committee at UChicago Medicine, and is serving on the community engagement subcommittee.

Theresa Hallenen, DHSc, MS, OTR/L, CHT, is an Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist with over 10-years of experience. She works for the Duke University Health System as a senior OT and co-director of the Duke Hand Therapy Fellowship program. Theresa has worked with colleagues in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery to establish a center of excellence dedicated to traumatic nerve injury. Besides her clinical work, Theresa is an instructor for the Duke Occupational Therapy Doctorate program. She has volunteered with ASHT and the leadership committee since 2020.

Brooke Ochoa, OTR/L, CHT, works for Benchmark Physical Therapy in northeast Georgia. She is an active member of the American Society of Hand Therapists serving as Advocacy Committee chair of the Practice Division, presenting at the Atlanta Hand Therapy Review Course, and participating in the inaugural cohort of the Leadership Development Program. In addition to service with ASHT, Brooke enjoys mentoring students and new graduate occupational therapists. Her passions include promoting the specialty of hand therapy in her community and empowering occupational therapy students to pursue careers in hand therapy. In her free time, Brooke enjoys hiking, reading, and finding local restaurants to enjoy.

Juliet Steffe, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, is the Director of Academic Fieldwork and Assistant Professor at the Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy at Spalding University. She also works as a hand therapist with Louisville Orthopedic Clinic. She graduated from the Medical College of Ohio in 1995 with a Master of Occupational Therapy. She worked for Shriners Hospitals for Children early in her career, gaining interest and experience in pediatric hand therapy. After moving to Atlanta, GA, in 2000, Juliet continued to build her pediatric hand therapy skills with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. While at CHOA, she worked with children with neurological and orthopedic conditions, including brachial plexus birth injuries, congenital conditions of the upper extremity, and traumatic injuries. She completed training in Neurodevelopmental Treatment in 2003 and began work on a doctorate in OT with a focus on upper extremity rehabilitation. While completing a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, she began working in the field of adult hand therapy. She earned an OTD from the Univ. of St. Augustine in 2005. In 2006, she received board certification in hand therapy. The focus of her practice as an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist has been working with both adults and children recovering from either traumatic or chronic conditions of the upper extremities. She is currently working on a Doctorate of Education emphasizing executive leadership. Her volunteer interests include serving as Chair of the ASHT Leadership Committee and participating in the pediatric community group. Juliet also volunteers with the American Red Cross and participates in blood drives with the Louisville chapter.

Gymnast’s Wrist

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Lindsey Williams, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist. This is Lindsey’s second time on the Hands in Motion podcast. On this episode, we discuss distal radius epiphysitis, commonly known as gymnast’s wrist. Lindsey describes how this condition is diagnosed, initially treated, and what the return to sport rehabilitation looks like.

Guest bio: Lindsey Williams OT, CHT is a pediatric occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist specializing in treatment of pediatric upper limb conditions including congenital anomalies, orthopedic conditions, and sports related injuries at Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas, TX. She received her Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Murray State University in 2005 and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2008 from Spalding University. She became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2015. Prior to joining the Scottish Rite team, Lindsey began her career at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital where she worked with a multidisciplinary team to serve hand, rheumatology, and brachial plexus clinics.

From Patient to Therapist

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Amy Lindsey, a physical therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who has lived the experience of being a patient in a hand therapy clinic. When she was a teenager, Amy was involved in an accident that left her with significant injuries to both of her hands. She spent extensive time working to regain functional use of her upper extremities and was inspired by her therapists to become a physical therapist and Certified Hand Therapist.

Guest bio: Amy Lindsey, PT, CHT is a physical therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who works closely with patients with various upper extremity orthopedic injuries. She realized her dream of becoming a therapist in 1993 after being in a severe MVA and losing the use of both hands. Through a year of physical therapy and 13+ orthopedic and cosmetic surgeries to regain use of her hands, she developed a great understanding and empathy for the people who have gone through a traumatic injury. Amy received a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science in 1999 and Masters of Physical Therapy in 2001 from Saint Louis University and has been working as a physical therapist specializing in the treatment of upper extremity injuries. She became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2007 and truly became a hand therapist with “first hand” experience. She decided to broaden her scope of practice and return to treatment of lower extremity injuries in 2015 after moving to Houston, TX while growing the hand therapy program in the Northeast Region for Memorial Hermann. Amy currently lives in Kingwood, TX and is a wife to husband of 23 years and mother to her 2 boys, ages 21 & 18. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, lifting weights, walking/hiking, various outdoor activities and spending time with her family.

CMC Osteoarthritis

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:01:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Corey McGee, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who has dedicated a significant portion of his career researching first CMC osteoarthritis. He shares with us some of the latest therapy interventions and thought paradigms when addressing thumb osteoarthritis as well as what is on the horizon.

Guest bio: Corey McGee, PhD, MS, OTR/L, CHT is an Associate Professor and Research Chair in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Minnesota. There he studies hand therapy assessments and interventions for persons with hand osteoarthritis; teaches courses in orthotic fabrication, hand therapy practice, and anatomy and kinesiology; and mentors post-docs and PhD and OTD students. There he also serves as the academic coordinator for the MHealth-University of MN Hand Therapy Fellowship. Beyond this, Corey is an invited international speaker, the 2019 Nathalie Barr Lectureship Awardee, has received ASHT awards for best poster, best presentation, and best surgeon-therapist collaborative research project, and has been recognized as the Minnesota OT Association’s “OT of the Year” and “Researcher of the Year”. Corey has served as an editorial board member of the Journal of Hand Therapy; an ASHT research division member; a grant reviewer for the American Hand Therapy Foundation; and a peer-reviewer for numerous rehabilitation, engineering, and surgery journals.

2024 Pediatric Specialty Day Preview

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Peggy Faussett and Lindsey Williams, both occupational therapists and Certified Hand Therapists who are serving as the co-chairs for a new ASHT offering at this year’s annual meeting - the Pediatric Specialty Day. They share with us what we can expect from this new offering, how the day will be set up, the educational content, and the networking opportunities.

Guest bio: Mary “Peggy” Faussett, OTR, CHT received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Creighton University in Omaha, NE in 1999 and her Masters of Occupational Therapy from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA in 2001. She became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2012. She works at Children's Hospital Colorado (CHCO) as the Pediatric Hand Therapy Program Coordinator and Fellowship Coordinator in the department of Occupational Therapy. She and her team of eight CHTs and four pediatric OTs work with patients from new babies to young adults with upper extremity congenital, traumatic, and systemic conditions. Together, they provide hand therapy services in the NICU, in-patient, emergency room, operating room, out-patient clinics, and multidisciplinary clinics at multiple CHCO locations across Colorado. She has presented on topics related to pediatric hand therapy nationally and internationally. She serves locally on the board for the Denver Hand SIG and nationally for ASHT Education Division Pediatric Committee.

Lindsey Williams, OT, CHT is a pediatric occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist specializing in the treatment of pediatric upper limb conditions including congenital anomalies, orthopedic conditions, and sports-related injuries at Scottish Rite for Children in Dallas, TX. She received her Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Murray State University in 2005 and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2008 from Spalding University. She became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2015. Prior to joining the Scottish Rite team, Lindsey began her career at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital where she worked with a multidisciplinary team to serve hand, rheumatology, and brachial plexus clinics.

2024 Annual Meeting Preview

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Brocha Stern, the 2024 ASHT Annual Meeting Committee Chair. She shares with us what we can expect at this year’s annual meeting that will be held September 26-29 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Guest bio: Brocha Z. Stern, PhD, OTR, CHT is the Chair of the 2024 ASHT Annual Meeting Committee. She is a Certified Hand Therapist who currently works as an orthopedic health services researcher at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. She is an active volunteer with multiple national societies.

Using AI in Hand Therapy

Mon, 20 May 2024 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Zack Sutton, a physical therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who is utilizing artificial intelligence in his clinical practice to increase efficiencies. He shares with us a variety of ways to implement AI in hand therapy and the various benefits of using AI in clinical practice.

Guest bio: Zach Sutton, PT, DPT, MS, MBA, ATC, CHT is co-owner of McMinnville Physical Therapy, PLLC. Zach’s current practice focuses on sports medicine with an emphasis on the upper extremity in an outpatient practice in McMinnville, TN. Zach is adjunct faculty at South College’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and contributed to the chapter on the hand in Hertling and Kessler’s 5th edition of Management of Common Musculoskeletal Disorders. At the 2022 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hand Therapists, Zach presented on Current Concepts with Lateral Epicondylalgia. Most recently, at the American Physical Therapy Association’s Tennessee Chapter this Spring, Zach presented “Merging Minds - Clinical Mastery Meets AI Advancements.”

American Association for Hand Surgery: Benefits of a Therapist Membership

Mon, 06 May 2024 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Hands in Motion, we are joined by Nora Barrett and Stephanie Kannas who are both hands therapists who are current Affiliate Directors on the board of the American Association for Hand Surgery. They share with us how therapists can become involved in AAHS and give us the inside scoop on the upcoming meeting that will be held in Hawaii in January 2025.

Guest bio: Nora Barrett, OTR/L, CHT, WCC

Nora has been a practicing occupational therapist since 1998 and a Certified Hand Therapist since 2006. She spent her early career as an inpatient therapist at rehabilitation centers, acute care hospitals and burn units in Boston, MA and Washington, DC before focusing in outpatient hands in Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD and Bend, OR. Nora moved to Charlottesville, VA in 2021 and joined the Hand Therapy Team at the University of Virginia Physicians Group where she works in the Hand Center and in an outpatient hand therapy practice. She received her Wound Care Certification in 2020 and is an active member of the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) and the American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS). She lectures routinely in wound care, burn therapy, trauma and peripheral nerve injury for ASHT, AAHS and various universities across the country.

Guest bio: Stephanie Kannas, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Stephanie is the Director of the Occupational Therapy Fellowship Program, Coordinator of the Occupational Therapy Hand Fellowship Program and clinical lead occupational therapist in hand therapy at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She is an assistant professor for the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Stephanie serves on the AO North America Hand Education Committee and holds an Affiliate Member At Large position for the American Society of Hand Surgery. She received her baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy in 2000 from the University of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2016, she earned her post-professional doctoral degree in occupational therapy and successfully completed the hand therapy elective track from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah. She is a Certified Hand Therapist. She has over 21 years of experience at the Mayo Clinic. The majority of her time has been focused on hand injuries varying from complex trauma cases while patients are hospitalized for outpatient therapy needs.

Work Conditioning in Upper Extremity Injuries

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:01:00 -0400

Welcome back to another episode of Hands in Motion. On this episode, we are joined by Kim Pace, an occupational therapist who specializes in industrial rehabilitation. Kim shares with us what her role is in returning clients back to their jobs after injury. We discuss how she evaluates clients and ensures that they are ready to return to their job, if modifications are necessary, or if another job might be more suitable based on their functional abilities. Welcome to Hands in Motion, Kim.

Guest bio: Kimberly graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan in 1982. She spent eight years practicing in psychiatric occupational therapy and then for the last 34 years she has been involved in a variety of aspects of industrial rehabilitation. Kim performs Functional Capacity Evaluations, work evaluations, job site visits, job site videos, job coaching, and pre-employment testing. Kim has been at her current job for 22 years and has the privilege of working with 15 hand and orthopedic specialists which are on-site at all clinics where therapy is provided. Kim is very involved with the Michigan Occupational Therapy Association and was appointed by the governor to serve on the State of Michigan Occupational Therapy Board for six years. Kim's passion is to make sure clients receive therapy that will help them achieve their goals so they can resume their previous level of activity.

Targeted Muscle Reinnervation

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Dr. Bryan Loeffler, an orthopedic surgeon who devotes a significant amount of his practice to treating patients who have experienced limb loss. He discusses with us the use of targeted muscle reinnervation, its indications, and how it has transformed care for patients to prevent pain and improve function.

Guest bio:

Dr. Loeffler specializes in the entire spectrum of hand and upper extremity disorders from the fingertips to the shoulder. He has a special interest in complex elbow conditions and peripheral nerve injuries. Dr. Loeffler has been awarded multiple research grants to fund various clinical studies as well as a basic science study on biologic solutions to improve rotator cuff healing. He has authored numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from forearm injuries to shoulder and elbow replacement. Academic honors and achievements range from excellence in surgery to resident teaching award. He has also participated in two international medical missions, providing orthopaedic surgical care in underserved areas. Dr. Loeffler is a former NCAA Division I wrestler at the University of Maryland, and he remains active by running and spending time with his wife, Jennifer, and their three children.

Upper Extremity Rehabilitation for Rock Climbers

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:01:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Emily Hartnett, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist who has turned her hobby of rock climbing into a specialty area of practice. She shares with us common injuries sustained by rock climbers and unique aspects of caring for this patient population.

Guest bio:

Emily Hartnett, OTD, MOTR/L, CHT graduated with her Bachelors of Health Science in 2017, her Masters of Occupational Therapy in 2019, and her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy with a focus on rock-climbers' injuries in 2022 from Quinnipiac University. Emily is an avid rock climber herself and has been specializing in treatment of the upper extremity since she received her OT license in February of 2019. Emily has combined her hobby and career to treat rock climbers; she has developed effective return to climb protocols and effective strategies, such as PRO (Pulley Ring Orthotic, patent pending) fabrication and application, to allow climbers to continue to climb while rehabilitating from injury.

Benefits of ASHT Membership

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 00:01:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Rob McClellan, our current ASHT Board Member at Large. Rob shares with us all of the benefits of being an ASHT member and a variety of ways to get involved in the organization. Welcome to Hands in Motion, Rob.

Guest bio:

Rob McClellan, OTR/L, CHT, COMT-UL has 23 years of experience working in hand and upper limb rehabilitation. He is an active member of the American Society of Hand Therapists serving on the Board of Directors as Board Member at Large, the Leadership Committee, and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. He is an active member of the American Association for Hand Surgery and is the Immediate Past President of the Georgia Hand and Upper Extremity Special Interest Group. He has had the opportunity to speak at previous ASHT Annual Conferences and the IFSSH/ IFSHT Triennial Congress in London. Rob is the Hand Program Coordinator for Physio/ Select Medical in Georgia.

Psychological Impact of Upper Extremity Injury

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 04:00:00 -0400

We are joined by Dr Brad Grunert, a psychologist who has worked for many years with patients who have sustained traumatic injuries to their upper extremity. He shares with the techniques that we can utilize in our hand therapy sessions to support the psychological needs of our patients and help them cope with their injury.

Guest bio:

Dr. Grunert is a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Medical College of Wisconsin. His areas of specialty include working with traumatically hand-injured patients, and he has published extensively in this area. He also has interests in psychogenic hand disorders and chronic pain disorders of the upper extremity. He is in his 47th year of practice and still enjoys the opportunity to assist patients in coping with the psychological residuals of hand injuries and their accompanying disability. Dr. Grunert is a fellow of Wisconsin Psychological Association and a member of the American Psychological Association.

Hand Therapy with Mercy Ships

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Yeiddy Ferreira, an occupational therapist who is spending three months volunteering as a hand therapist with Mercy Ships in Sierra Leone, Africa. Yeiddy shares with us what life is like living on the ship and caring for patients who have undergone surgery to their upper extremity.

Guest bio:

Yeiddy L. Ferreira, OTR/L is originally from the Dominican Republic. She graduated from Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, New York with a Masters in Occupational Therapy. She has always had a passion for hand therapy and began working in the field after she graduated in 2021. In 2022, she went on her first medical mission trip as a hand therapist in the Dominican Republic. After this experience, her passion for serving and helping others grew further. This is when she came across Mercy Ships and accepted a three-month commitment to serve as a hand therapist in Sierra Leone, Africa. When not taking care of patients on the ship, Yeiddy spends her time studying for the CHT Xxam which she plans to take in November 2024.

Clinical Guideline for Treating Lateral Elbow Pain

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Ann Lucado, a physical therapist and Certified Hand

Therapist who led a team of clinicians to develop the clinical practice guideline, “Lateral

Elbow Pain and Muscle Function Impairments.” Ann shares with us what a clinical

practice guideline is and how they are developed, as well as the results of this guideline

and how therapists treating patients with lateral elbow pain can best utilize the

evidence.

Guest bio:

Ann Lucado, PT, PhD, CHT

Ann Lucado is a physical therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who has specialized in

upper extremity and orthopedic rehabilitation for the past 30 years. She is an active

member of the APTA’s Academy of Orthopedic Physical therapy and is currently serving

as the Chair of the Research Committee and Coordinator of Clinical Practice Guideline

Development for the Academy of Hand and Upper Extremity Physical Therapy. She

received her Master of Science in Community Health Education and Physical Therapy

and received her PhD in research methodology and design in Physical Therapy. Dr.

Lucado is currently an Associate Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

at Mercer University located in Atlanta, Georgia. She has conducted numerous

instructional seminars and is the author of several research articles related to elbow

tendinopathies. She headed the Guideline Development group for the recently

published Clinical Practice Guideline related to Lateral Elbow Pain and Muscle Function

Impairments in the Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-lucado-6a656520/

https://instagram.com/annlucado?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%3D%3D&utm_sour

Psychosocial Factors and Pain in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode are joined by Alyssa Phillips, an occupational therapist who has spent a large majority of her clinical practice and research on how patients perceive pain and the relationship between psychological factors and pain. On this episode, she shares with us the importance of recognizing how psychological factors can have an effect on our patient’s recovery. She also shares strategies for maximizing our patient’s functional outcomes while addressing their pain.

Guest bio:

Alyssa L. Phillips, CScD, MOT, OTR/L

Alyssa graduated from Saint Francis University with her Masters of Occupational therapy and later with her Doctorate in Clinical Science from the University of Pittsburgh, focusing on adolescent pain management. Alyssa brings a unique background with an undergraduate degree in psychology to her practice as an occupational therapist. For the last six years, she has worked in a variety of clinical settings including: upper extremity, chronic pain, neurological, work & industry, and pediatrics. Currently, Alyssa is the Clinical Education Coordinator and an assistant professor at Pacific University.

Strength and Conditioning in Hand Therapy

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode we are joined by our first repeat guest, Jim Wagner. Jim is an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who also has a background in strength training and conditioning. He shares with us how to implement strength and conditioning in our hand therapy practices and why it’s important for our patients.

Jim Wagner OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CPAM, CSCS

Dr. Wagner is an occupational therapist/Certified Hand Therapist with 28 years of clinical experience working in the upper extremity orthopedic setting. He received his post professional clinical doctorate from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions with a specialty in hand therapy. Dr. Wagner is credentialed in physical agent modalities and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist.

Jim is currently the team leader of the Guthrie Hand Center and is an adjunct professor at both Keuka and Ithaca College occupational therapy programs. Jim has been involved in competitive powerlifting/bodybuilding for 35 year and has been in 28 competitions. He has traveled extensively teaching on topics such as kinesiology taping, cupping, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobility, orthotic fabrication and blood flow restriction training.

Jim is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists. He has been published in the practice forum section of the Journal of Hand Therapy and serves on the Education Division of the ASHT.

Article Links:

Comparison of blood flow restriction devices and their effect on quadriceps muscle activation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.02.005

Practical Blood Flow Restriction Training Increases Acute Determinants of Hypertrophy Without Increasing Indices of Muscle Damage.

https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Fulltext/2013/11000/Practical_Blood_Flow_Restriction_Training.20.aspx

Blood Flow Restriction Training: Implementation into Clinical Practice.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5609669/

Differences in the limb blood flow between two types of blood flow restriction cuffs: A pilot study. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.931270/full

Relative Motion Orthoses

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode we are joined by Julianne Howell, a physical therapist and certified hand therapist who has contributed significantly to the field of hand and upper extremity therapy through publications and teaching of the use of relative motion orthoses. We discuss the concept of relative motion and how this was initially used in treating extensor tendon repairs but now is being utilized for protection, assessment, exercise, and adaptive techniques. We also explore a variety of diagnoses and instances where patients might benefit from a relative motion extension or flexion orthosis.

Guest: Julianne W Howell, PT, MS, CHT

Julie has enjoyed being a physical therapist, with more than 40 years of her career dedicated to the management of the upper limb and hand. Practice sites have varied from the Midwest and to the west to east coasts in acute hospitals, an adult burn center, as owner of a private hand therapy practice, development of two corporate hand centers and as a private consultant. She has had the great fortune to work side by side with hand surgeons and therapists who have influenced her approach to patient care as well as the science of hand surgery and hand therapy.

Julie has strived to be a lifetime learner, provide valued patient care, and to be a good mentor and colleague. Early in her career, she set a personal goal to routinely contribute to the science of hand therapy. She now has over 20 peer-reviewed publications and 15 book chapters and articles.

Julie has participated in countless professional seminars and is proud of her service to AAHS, ASHT, IFSHT, Journal of Hand Therapy, Hand, and Techniques in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery. She has been honored to receive the AAHS Vargas Teaching Award, ASHT RL Petzoldt Award for best innovative research, ASHT Best Clinical Research paper, the Journal of Physical Therapy Jack Walker Award for best clinical practice manuscript and most downloaded IFSHT presentation. She has had the great honor to be awarded Philadelphia’s Honored Professorship and Invited Speaker for the New Zealand, Dutch, Canadian and Malaysian Hand Therapy Societies. Co-editing the 2023 Journal of Hand Therapy relative motion special issue was also a very satisfying achievement for Julie!

Julie feels very fortunate to have collaborated with many colleagues over the years, especially Wyndell Merritt, MD, FACS and Melissa Hirth, BOT, MSc, PhD. Together they have made an evidence-based global impact concerning the relative motion concept and orthoses.

2023 Annual Meeting Preview

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 04:00:00 -0400

We are just weeks away from gathering in San Antonio, Texas for the 46th ASHT Annual Meeting. If you haven’t signed up yet to attend either in person or virtually, this episode might give you the little push you need to register. We are joined by Missy Thurlow, this year’s annual meeting chair. She shares with us what we can expect at the meeting during the plenary sessions, the concurrent sessions, and of course the social and networking opportunities.

Guest bio:

Missy Cathcart Thurlow, MBA, OTR/L, CHT works in Atlanta, Georgia for Peachtree Orthopedics. She has been an occupational therapist for 42 years and graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas in 1981. Missy is currently the ASHT Annual Meeting Chair and also works closely with the Georgia Hand and Upper Extremity Special Interest Group. Previously, she has given many years to serving on the ASHT board of directors and loves working with other therapists by providing great education. Missy is a fieldwork instructor and loves to teach students about hand and upper extremity rehabilitation.

Casting Motion to Mobilize Stiffness

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Judy Colditz. Judy is an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who has contributed to the field of hand and upper extremity therapy for a number of years through sharing her knowledge. She has published journal articles, written book chapters, and provided educational offerings on a variety of hand therapy topics. On this episode, Judy shares with us a concept for treating stiff hands that she developed called Casting Motion to Mobilize Stiffness. We discuss how this concept came to be and how we can apply this technique in our clinical practice.

Guest: Judy Colditz, OT/L, CHT, FAOTA

Congenital Limb Differences

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Sarah Tuberty, OTD, OTR/L, an occupational therapist who, through her own lived experience of being born with a limb difference, is helping to increase visibility and inclusion of the limb difference community. She shares with us how the language around limb differences has evolved and how we as therapists can create a supportive network for patient and families as they navigate the limb difference community.

Guest Bio:

Sarah Tuberty, OTD, OTR/L, has the lived experience of a congenital hand difference, meaning she was born without fingers on her left hand and was a patient of the Shriners Hospital for Children – Northern California. Her life has been a journey of adaptation and understanding of the disability experience. She earned her Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Boston University. Partnering with her hand surgeon, Michelle James, MD, Sarah developed the Congenital Hand Differences Resource website, which is an online resource for parents of children with hand differences. Sarah sought to continue to make accessible resources for parents and partnered with co-author, Nina Lightdale-Miric, MD to write The Hand Book: An Informational Guide for Parents of Children with Hand Differences. This book is recently published by ASSH and funded by AFSH.

Sarah’s particular interests surround the social and emotional aspects of growing up with physical differences. Her work includes co-founding and co-hosting Disarming Disability, a podcast on deconstructing the social construct on disability and an author of Super-Abled Comics, featuring six short stories of superheroes with limb differences written by authors who have limb differences. She is ecstatic to level up her work, and has just completed her first year in an OT PhD program at Texas Womans University.

Sarah works to provide consulting services on disability related topics, modeling, and has presented at multiple events on topics around inclusion, disability stigma, and lived experience with a congenital hand difference. All of these efforts are to create a true and positive narrative of disability, where we can all be proud of who we are, what our bodies look like, and how they move.

Prosthetics Series: The Patient Perspective with Greg Johnson

Mon, 01 May 2023 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode we are joined by Greg Johnson. In 2017 Greg was involved in an accident and sustained amputations of his long, ring and small fingers of his right hand. After his injury his goal was to restore his independence, and he found that through the use of a variety of prosthetics. Greg shares with us his experience of learning to use a variety of prostheses that have allowed him to return to work and the other activities that are meaningful to him.

Guest Bio:

Greg Johnson entered the United States Navy in 1985 as an advanced electronic technician. He was deployed three times to the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean and North Atlantic. He was part of the first responders to the TWA Flight 800 plane crash, driving for 43 days recovering victims and wreckage. PO Johnson was selected as the 1999 Chief of Naval Operations Shore Sailor of the Year and was transferred to Washington, DC as a Special Assistant to the CNO. He was promoted in 2000 and was deployed twice as an Officer in Charge to the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan. From 2004-2007, he was stationed in Guam where he served as the Readiness and Training department head. In 2007, he transferred to Naval Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technology Division, serving as the Readiness and Training Officer and Officer in Charge of the Foreign Material Acquisition Platoon. After 26 years in the Navy, he retired in November 2010 and worked as a government service employee as the Foreign Material Acquisition team lead. While in this role, he was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan three times. While working overseas, Mr. Johnson was wounded by improvised homemade explosive devices resulting in the loss of fingers on his right hand and numerous shrapnel wounds throughout his body.

Prosthetics Series: Pediatric Upper Extremity Prosthetics

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Dwight Putnam, a certified prosthetist who works at a pediatric hospital in Texas. He brings a unique perspective to his job as a prosthetist as he previously worked as a professional sculptor. In his job, Dwight works with kids born with congenital hand differences and he builds terminal devices that allow them to participate in the activities that are meaningful to them.

Guest bio:

Dwight Putnam, CP/LP, graduated from Austin College with a degree in art with an emphasis in sculpture. He worked as a professional sculptor building works of art for casinos, museums, zoos and retail companies around the globe before an opportunity arose to fabricate silicone appliances for the face, hands, and feet. It was then that he saw how his background in sculpture could help change people’s lives so he returned to school to become a prosthetist.

Dwight graduated from California State University and completed his prosthetics residency at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. After completing his residency in 2007, he joined the staff at Scottish Rite as a certified prosthetist and has been there ever since. He designs both upper and lower extremity prosthetics for pediatric patients.

Prosthetics Series: Hand Therapy and Prosthetics with Haley Van Escobar, MOTR/L, CHT

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Haley Van Escobar, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who serves in a unique role as a consultant for a prosthetics company. Haley shares with us how she transitioned into this role and how a hand therapist is vital to a multidisciplinary team when addressing partial hand amputations.

Guest Bio:

Haley Van Escobar, MOTR/L, CHT is a certified hand therapist with a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy and more than a decade of experience caring for the upper extremity. She is excited about innovation, great clinical skills, and the ‘why’ we do what we do. Haley provides hand therapy consultation for Naked Prosthetics, the leading manufacturer of partial-hand prosthetics. In this role, constant collaboration with a team of a variety of healthcare professionals allows Haley to get people back to life through prosthetic intervention. Inspired by great clinical outcomes and relationships, Haley works to advance the practice of hand therapy through creating top-tier educational events and workshops, approved for credit by AOTA which can be found on her website. Haley is a contributor to Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation, 4th edition, serves as project lead for the ASHT Education Division, and serves on AAHS’s Education Committee.

Advocacy in Hand Therapy

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 10:30:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Danielle Sparks, an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who currently serves as the Director of ASHT’s Practice Division. Danielle gives us the inside scoop on the Practice Division and how ASHT, along with our legislative consultants, advocates for our profession and how you can get involved as well.

Guest Bio:

Danielle Sparks, DHS, MOT, OTR, CHT is the Director of Therapy at the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center in Indianapolis, IN. She has been an occupational therapist since 2009 and a Certified Hand Therapist since 2015. Danielle received her post-professional doctorate in 2018 at the University of Indianapolis. She is the current Practice Division Director for ASHT and has been a member of the Practice Division since 2017. Danielle is passionate about patient care and advocating for our profession.

Mission Work in Sierra Leone, Karen Roeming, OT, MA, CHT

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Karen Roeming, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist who has a servant’s heart and a special place in her heart for the people of Sierra Leone, Africa. Karen shares with us about a recent mission trip she organized to Sierra Leone to help survivors of a gas explosion that occurred in 2021. We discuss the challenges of providing medical care in an underdeveloped country and how the team used their creative therapist minds to treat the burn survivors.

Guest Bio:

Karen Roeming, OT, MA, CHT is the Director of Occupational Therapy at Colleyville Physical Therapy in Colleyville, Texas. She graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in Occupational Therapy and then received a Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University.

Karen has served on the Board of Directors and the Annual Meeting Committee for the American Society of Hand Therapists. She has also served as President and Education Chair for the Texas Society for Hand Therapy and is a co-founder of the DFW Hand Society. Karen has been a speaker at national, state, and local hand therapy society and occupational therapy educational meetings. Karen is a repeat missioner to Bo, Sierra Leone, Africa. She started the Run for Rescue 5K and 1-mile event in 2010 and directed the Sponsor-a-Child program for the Child Rescue Center in Sierra Leone.

Traumatic Injuries of the Brachial Plexus with Stephanie Kannas, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Stephanie Kannas, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist who has taken a special interest in treating patients who have sustained traumatic brachial plexus injuries. Stephanie discusses the mechanism of injury, common surgical procedures, and the role of upper extremity therapists in restoring function for these patients. If you have questions or would like to use Stephanie as a resource, her contact email is kannas.stephanie@mayo.edu.

Guest Bio:

Stephanie Kannas, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, is the Director of the Occupational Therapy

Fellowship Program, Coordinator of the Occupational Therapy Hand Fellowship Program and clinical lead occupational therapist in hand therapy at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. She is an assistant professor for the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Stephanie serves on the AO North America Hand Education Committee and holds an Affiliate Member At Large position for the American Society of Hand Surgery.

Stephanie received her baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy in 2000 from the

University of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2016, she earned her post-

professional doctoral degree in occupational therapy and successfully completed the hand therapy elective track from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Provo, Utah. She is a Certified Hand Therapist. She has over 21 years of experience at Mayo Clinic. The majority of her time has been focused on hand injuries varying from complex trauma cases while patients are hospitalized to outpatient therapy needs.

Pediatric Burns with Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCP

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode we are joined by Patti Sharp, an occupational therapist who has spent several years working with pediatric patients who have sustained burn injuries. Patti discusses the role of occupational and physical therapy in a burn unit, what makes treating children different, and strategies for treating this population who have sustained life-altering burn injuries.

Guest Bio:

Patti Sharp, OTD, MS, OTR/L, BCP, is a pediatric occupational therapist with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) in Ohio. She earned her Master’s in OT at Washington University and OTD at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions and has over 20 years of pediatric experience. She has specialized in burns and neurorehabilitation, but now focuses on enhancing care in the developmental world. She co-leads the Developmental Coordination Disorder team at CCHMC and is a certified Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) therapist and trainer.

Treating Pediatric Joint Hypermobility with Carrie Shotwell, MEd, DHS, OTR/L

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 04:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we discuss pediatric joint hypermobility with Carrie Shotwell, an occupational therapist who works at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. She has an extensive history working with children and teenagers who experience hypermobility in their joints which can significantly impact their everyday lives. She shares tips and tricks for assessing and treating these children affected by this diagnosis, how to get both the kids and their parents to buy in, and how we as therapists can support then on their lifetime journey of living with hypermobile joints.

Guest Bio:

Carrie Shotwell is an occupational therapist at Cincinnati Children’s hospital. She works in outpatient therapy as well as in several clinics including pediatric rheumatology, orthopedic and plastics, CP, and EB. Her primary caseload is pediatric hand therapy, including many people with hypermobility spectrum disorder. She is currently helping to update and revise the Cincinnati Children’s Clinical Practice Guideline for joint hypermobility.

Blood Flow Restriction with Jim Wagner, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CPAM, CSCS

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode we are joined by Jim Wagner, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CPAM, CSCS, to discuss blood flow restriction and its application to upper extremity rehab. Jim discusses the science behind blood flow restriction, how it can be utilized in the rehab setting, and how it can benefit patients.

Article Links:

Comparison of blood flow restriction devices and their effect on quadriceps muscle activation. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.02.005

Practical Blood Flow Restriction Training Increases Acute Determinants of Hypertrophy Without Increasing Indices of Muscle Damage.

https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Fulltext/2013/11000/Practical_Blood_Flow_Restriction_Training.20.aspx

Blood Flow Restriction Training: Implementation into Clinical Practice.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5609669/

Differences in the limb blood flow between two types of blood flow restriction cuffs: A pilot study. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.931270/full

Guest Bio:

Dr. Wagner, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CPAM, CSCS, is an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist with 28 years of clinical experience working in the upper extremity orthopedic setting. He received his post professional clinical doctorate from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions with a specialty in hand therapy. Dr. Wagner is credentialed in physical agent modalities and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist.

Jim is currently the team leader of the Guthrie Hand Center and is an adjunct professor at both Keuka and Ithaca College occupational therapy programs. He has been involved in competitive powerlifting/bodybuilding for 35 year and has participated in 28 competitions. Jim has traveled extensively teaching on topics such as kinesiology taping, cupping, instrument assisted soft tissue mobility, orthotic fabrication, and blood flow restriction training. Jim is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT). He has been published in the practice forum section of the Journal of Hand Therapy and serves on the Education Division of the ASHT.

Spotlight on Treatment: Joint Mobilization of the Elbow with Ann Porretto-Loehrke, PT, DPT, CHT, COMT, CMTPT

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by Ann Porretto-Loerhke, PT, DPT, CHT, COMT, CMTPT to discuss joint mobilizations for the elbow. She recently presented a webinar for ASHT on this very topic so if you did not catch that episode, we will give you a sneak peek on some of the information discussed in the webinar as well as some other tips and tricks on treating the elbow. Wanting to know more? Check out her webinar in ASHT’s webinar library at: https://education.asht.org

Guest Bio: dss

Ann has been a practicing physical therapist since 1994 and CHT since 2002. Since obtaining her manual therapy certification in 2003, Ann has utilized her background in differential diagnostics to create engaging clinical content for hand therapists to become more efficient clinicians. This is illustrated in the “Clinical Manual Assessment of the Wrist” published in the 2016 Special Edition on the Wrist in the Journal of Hand Therapy and Chapter 55: “Therapist Management of Compression Neuropathies of the Elbow” in the most recent edition of the Rehabilitation of the Hand. She possesses a passion for learning and clinical teaching. Ann is the Clinical Development Coordinator at the Hand to Shoulder Center in Appleton, Wisconsin. She serves on the ASHT Awards Committee and enjoys teaching and sharing her knowledge both through in-person courses and online.

One Great Therapist-Patient Team: Deana Swanson, MS, OTR/L, CHT and Buddy Valastro

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0400

We are honored to be joined by Buddy Valastro and Deana Swanson, OT/L, CHT, a fantastic patient-therapist combo. Two years ago Buddy suffered a severe injury to his right hand in an accident at home and has undergone multiple surgeries and hours of therapy in order to return to work in his family business, Carlo’s Bakery. On this episode, he and his hand therapist discuss his injury and how they worked together to get Buddy back to what her loves.

Guest Bios:

Deana Swanson, MS, OTR/L, CHT

Deana Swanson, MS, OTR/L, CHT received her Master’s in Occupational Therapy in 2009 from Quinnipiac University. Following graduation, she began her training in hand and upper extremity therapy, treating trauma cases, repetitive stress injuries, post-op cases, and fractures.

In 2014, Deana became a Certified Hand Therapist and continued to treat trauma cases along with musicians from the New York Philharmonic. In 2021, Deana appeared with Buddy Valastro on TLC & #39’s December special, Buddy Valastro: Road to Recovery.

Currently, Deana is working as a hand therapist. Additionally, she conducts lectures and mentors staff and students from various colleges. Outside of work, Deana enjoys running, dancing, weightlifting, traveling, reading and spending time with her family

Buddy Valastro

Celebrity baker Buddy Valastro, a pioneer of the custom cake movement, has accomplished an insurmountable amount of influence through his work with the long-standing family business Carlo’s Bakery and the hit TLC series Cake Boss. With four New York Times best-selling books, four hit television shows and a following of more than 20 million social media fans internationally, Valastro continually establishes himself as a powerhouse in the culinary field.

Established in 1910, Carlo’s Bakery is a family-owned business with 12 locations nationally and numerous Cake ATM locations in North America. In 2013 Valastro, along with renowned restaurateurs Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla, opened Buddy V’s Ristorante at the Venetian Las Vegas focusing on the savory side of the Valastro family with dishes passed down from generation to generation. In 2020, Valastro opened his first pizzeria on the Las Vegas Strip, PizzaCake, at Harrah's Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, celebrating his love of both pizza and cake. 2022 has already been an exciting year for Valastro with the opening of The Boss Café and Jersey Eats at The LINQ Hotel + Experience, both of which focus on casual, grab-and-go Italian favorites. Valastro's success continues to expand with additional concepts and locations of existing favorites and a growing e-commerce business on the horizon.

For additional information on Buddy Valastro, please visit www.carlosbakery.com or follow @buddyvalastro on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok or @cakebossbuddy on Twitter.

Sneak Peek into the 2022 ASHT Annual Meeting in Washington, DC with Kim Kraft, PT, DPT, CHT

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0400

The ASHT Annual Meeting is right around the corner and today we are joined by Kim Kraft, PT, DPT, CHT, the 2022 Annual Meeting Program Chair. If you have not had the opportunity to attend the meeting in person, this year will be the year to come. Kim gives us the inside scoop on what to expect at this year’s meeting: the pre-conference presentations; how the plenary sessions and concurrent sessions work; and even opportunities to network with other therapists. If you cannot join us - no worries! The hybrid option has returned again this year. Kim and her team have put a lot of hard work into this year’s meeting and you do not want to miss it!

Guest Bio:

Since graduate school in Atlanta GA (Emory University), Kim has pursued interest in shoulders leading to a gratifying 26-year (and counting) career in upper extremity rehabilitation. Life adventures with college sweetheart Peter and daughter Gabrielle have led to clinical practice in New Jersey, Indiana and currently Oregon. Hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding yield opportunities for reflection and enjoying the spiritual beauty of nature in the Pacific Northwest. Kim currently serves as the ASHT 2022 Annual Meeting Chair and Board Member-at-Large.

Pediatric Brachial Plexus with James H. Northcutt, OTR, MOT, CHT

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by James Northcutt, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist, to discuss brachial plexus birth injuries. James is the coordinator of the brachial plexus program at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. We discuss several aspects of this diagnosis from evaluation at birth or soon after, how to address the needs of these children, and some of the interventions these kids might receive to address their impairments. He also gives us some great therapy treatment ideas and how to help these children from infancy to adulthood.

Guest Bio:

My career began in adult hand at Bay Area Rehabilitation Center in Baytown and after two years I applied for a position at Shriners Hospital despite not having the credentials they were seeking. Shriners took a chance on me, and I fell in love with caring for tiny humans. Five years in to practice I was given the opportunity to serve as the brachial plexus clinic coordinator and hand therapist at Texas Children's Hospital, a role I've been in for five years.

I am an adjunct professor for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Texas Woman’s University lecturing on brachial plexus birth palsy, anatomy of the upper extremity and helping out in the cadaver lab. Special interests include innovation in care through a collaboration with the Engineering Program at Rice University and custom orthosis design for pediatric patients.

I enjoy woodworking and building lamps out of antique appliances when time allows, and my weekends are filled with family activities. I am honored to be considered for the ASHT podcast and hope to give back to the profession that has given me so much joy. I am married to my beautiful and brilliant wife Leah, who is the greater of two therapists in our home. We have two crazy boys Isaac (3) and Evan (1) who keep us on our toes and are responsible for most of my gray hair.

Proprioception in Distal Radius Fractures with Kristin Valdes OTD, OT, CHT

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0400

Kris Valdes is an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist who has made extensive contributions to the hand and upper extremity profession. She is also a past president of ASHT. Kris has a widespread knowledge of treatment of distal radius fractures, specifically looking at proprioceptive input. In this episode, she defines that for us and gives helpful information on how to assess this in your patients as well as how to address it to ensure optimal rehabilitation.

Referenced material:

Rehabilitation strategies for wrist sensorimotor control impairment: From theory to practice

Journal of Hand TherapyVol. 29Issue 2p154–165Published online: December 11, 2015

· Christos Karagiannopoulos

· Susan Michlovitz

A descriptive study on wrist and hand sensori-motor impairment and function following distal radius fracture intervention

Journal of Hand TherapyVol. 26Issue 3p204–215Published online: April 29, 2013

· Christos Karagiannopoulos

· Michael Sitler

· Susan Michlovitz

· Ryan Tierney

Guest Bio:

Kristin Valdes OTD, OT, CHT, is an associate professor at Touro University in Henderson, Nevada. She is a past president of the American Society of Hand Therapists. She was in private practice for over thirty years and specialized in the treatment and rehabilitation of the upper extremity. Kristin has published over seventy peer-reviewed studies. Dr. Valdes received her OTD degree with a specialization in hand rehabilitation from Rocky Mountain University of Health Care Professions in Provo, Utah

Treating Traumatic Injuries with Gayle Severance, MS, OT/L, CHT and Danielle Zook OTD, MOT, OTR/L, CHT

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0400

We are joined by Gayle Severance and Danielle Zook, both occupational therapists and Certified Hand Therapists with Penn Good Shepherd in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are no strangers to treating patients who have sustained complex traumatic injuries and they share their wisdom with us. They share tips on how to prioritize your evaluation and treatment sessions to maximize outcomes and provide some great advice on how to be an advocate for your patient.

Guest Bios

Gayle Severance, MS, OT/L, CHT

Gayle Severance MS, OT/L, CHT received her Occupational Therapy degree from

Tufts University in 2000 and a certificate in Hand and Upper Extremity

Rehabilitation from Drexel University in 2004. Gayle practices in Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania and is the Hand Therapy Team Leader for Good Shepherd Penn

Partners, the official rehab provider for Penn Medicine. Her expertise is in the area

of elbows, wrists and hands. She helped develop the therapy program for Penn’s

Hand and Upper Extremity Transplant Program and serves as the lead therapist.

Gayle is an active member of the American Society of Hand Therapists, the

American Association of Hand Surgery and the American Society for Surgery of the

Hand. In 2014 She has participated in international medical missions including her

travel to Kumasi, Ghana as the AAHS Vargas Award recipient. She continued to

support the site as co-project director for Health Volunteers Overseas until 2017.

She has published on the subject of hand therapy and presents at conferences on

the international, national and local level.

Team Lead Occupational Therapist

Specialties

Musculoskeletal

Hand, Wrist and Elbow

Danielle Zook OTD, MOT, OTR/L, CHT

Danielle is an Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist with over eight years of experience treating upper extremity diagnoses. She recently completed her Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate, specializing in Teaching and Learning, at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Her expertise is in the evaluation and treatment of the hand, wrist, and elbow. Danielle has assisted in teaching the American Society of Hand Therapists Hands-on Orthotics Course, and has served as adjunct faculty at the University of the Sciences teaching a hand therapy course. She has also acted as a lab assistant and provided guest lectures at local Occupational Therapy programs on hand therapy interventions, ergonomics, functional movement analysis, and thermal agent modalities. Danielle is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists as well as the American Association for Hand Surgery. She has been published on the evaluation and treatment of complex trauma in the upper extremity.

Current Trends in Treatment with Jill Yanick, OTR/L, CHT

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, Jill Yanick, OTR/L, CHT joins us to discuss a variety of tools that you might have in your toolbox or may be interested in adding. We discuss utilizing cupping/myofascial release and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization. We also discuss an introduction to blood flow restriction for the upper extremity, dry needling and taping. Jill offers us some great thoughts on how these tools can be an adjunct in your clinical practice.

Guest Bio:

Jill is an OT/CHT currently working for ProFlex Physical Therapy in Maryland where she serves as the Director of Education and Clinical Competency. Jill currently serves on ASHT’s Education Division as the Mentoring Program Liaison in addition to lecturing for the UE Institute. She has a strong passion for mentorship and clinical education as a means to help grow the profession of hand therapy

HTCC 30th Anniversary with Martin Walsh, OTR/L, CHT

Mon, 30 May 2022 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode we are joined by Marty Walsh, OTR/L, CHT, the executive director of the Hand Therapy Certification Commission. Marty answers all of our questions about the Certified Hand Therapy Exam and gives some great insight as to how the questions are developed and how HTCC ensures that the designation of CHT maintains its high level of respect.

Guest Bio:

Martin Walsh, OTR/L, CHT became the Executive Director of the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC) in 2013. He joined the HTCC staff in 2004 as the Manager of Examination Services. He has been involved with HTCC as a volunteer since 1998, serving several terms as an item writer and then as an item writer mentor. Marty was appointed to the Examination Committee and Disciplinary Review Committee in 2002 and has been actively involved in all aspects of examination development.

A Certified Hand Therapist since 1992, Marty received most of his training and experience in hand therapy at Davies Medical Center in San Francisco, working with the microsurgeons and therapists at Davies Medical Center. He continues to have a passion for the treatment of patients with traumatic injuries to the hand and enjoys sharing his knowledge with others. Marty has lectured both at home and abroad on the topic of complex injuries to the hand. Marty has also volunteered his time working with patients and teaching therapists in South America. He has traveled to Colombia, Bolivia and Peru and has been active with the organization Resurge. In 2010 Marty received the Paul Brand Award of Professional Excellence from the American Society of Hand Therapists.

Knowledge Translation with Marsha Lawrence, PT, DPT, CHT

Mon, 16 May 2022 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Hands in Motion we are joined by Mia Erickson, PT, CHT, EdD and Marsha Lawrence, PT, DPT, CHT - both physical therapists and certified hand therapists - to discuss knowledge translation. We discuss what it is, how it is different from evidence-based practice and how it currently and will continue to effect treatment in hand therapy.

Reference Links

CPG’s

1. AAOS Quality Programs and Guidelines: https://www.aaos.org/quality/quality-programs/upper-extremity-programs/

1. AOTA Evidence Based Practice Resources (includes systematic reviews, critically appraised topics, practice guidelines, evidence infographics): AOTA EBP Resources

2. APTA Clinical Practice Guidelines: List of published CPG's

3. APTA Evidence Based Practice Resources: (includes tests and measures, clinical summaries, interventions and link to CPG’s in progress) APTA EBP Resources

4. Choose Wisely: Choose Wisely Clinician List

5. Choose Wisely: Choose Wisely patient list

6. ECRI Guidelines Trust: https://guidelines.ecri.org/

7. JOSPT Published CPG list: https://www.jospt.org/topic/clinpracguide?code=jospt-site

Guest Bio:

Marsha Lawrence has been a PT for over 40 years, a CHT since 1991 and earned her

DPT in 2019. She has practiced hand rehabilitation in a variety of settings on the

East Coast and in the Midwest. She served on ASHT’s Board of Directors as the Practice Division Director and as a Board Member at-Large. She presently serves as the Practice Affairs Coordinator for the APTA Academy of Hand and Upper Extremity, their Chief Delegate to the APTA’s House of Delegates, the Federal Affairs Liaison for the Academy, serves on APTA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Committee and on the Board of Directors for the American Hand Therapy Foundation.

Collaboration of an OT and COTA in Hand Therapy with Parker Gregory, OTR/L, CHT and Dillon Pittman, COTA

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0400

Happy Occupational Therapy Month to all of our OT listeners! On this episode, we are joined by Parker Gregory, OTR/L, CHT, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist, and Dillon Pittman, COTA, a certified occupational therapy assistant. We discuss the role of a COTA in a hand therapy practice, the collaborative relationship between an OT and COTA and the process of bridging from being a COTA to an occupational therapist.

Guest Bio:

Parker Gregory is an occupational therapist and a certified hand therapist. He graduated from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2014 and has been practicing in outpatient hand therapy for the last eight years, serving as clinic director in multiple clinics much of that time. He is currently practicing hand therapy with Crossroads Rehabilitation in North Mississippi. Parker has special interests and/or certifications in Dry Needling, Impairment Rating Recommendations, orthosis fabrication and wound care. Additionally, he is the founder and co-owner of The Upper Hand, LLC, a social media brand that aims to educate students and therapists alike about all things OT and all things hand.

Dillon Pittman is an occupational therapy assistant (OTA). He graduated from the OTA program at Itawamba Community College in 2016 and is currently pursuing his Master of Science in occupational therapy from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Dillon has practiced in outpatient hand therapy for five years and is currently on staff at Crossroads Rehabilitation in North Mississippi. Aside from orthopedics, his areas of special interest are pediatrics, mental health and OT in the community. In addition to his clinic time at Crossroads, Dillon films and edits content for The Upper Hand LLC, a YouTube channel and social media brand that he co-founded with Parker Gregory in 2020. He also serves as an active member of the OTA advisory board at Itawamba Community College.

Driving Rehabilitation with Susie Touchinsky, OTR/L, SCDCM, CDRS

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0400

We are excited to be joined by Susie Touchinsky, OTR/L, SCDCM, CDRS, an occupational therapist who is also a certified driving rehab specialist. Have you ever worked with a patient who has sustained a life altering injury but wants or needs to return to driving independently and you aren’t quite sure if they are ready for that? That is where Susie comes in. She brings her expertise as an occupational therapist and looks at the entire person to determine what is safe, if any adaptive equipment is needed, or if ultimately they are not safe to get behind the wheel. She discusses all of this and more.

Resources:

Facebook: Driving Rehab for the OT:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/OTDrivingRehab

Facebook: Adaptive Mobility Services:

https://www.facebook.com/drivingOT

Website: https://adaptivemobility.thinkific.com/

Podcast: OT Driving with Susie:

https://open.spotify.com/show/2JVIBs7fdva9nCOPSJfSRR

Directories:

· Adaptive Mobility https://adaptivemobility.com/ot-driver-rehabilitation-specialist-directory/

· AOTA aota.org

· ADED aded.net

Guest Full Name Including Credentials:

Susie is an occupational therapist & certified driver rehabilitation specialist and owner of Adaptive Mobility Services, LLC. She offers extensive clinical and professional knowledge with over 20 years of experience as an OT & driver rehab specialist. In her private practice, Susie loves working with clients to support their highest and safest level of engagement in mobility and teaching other occupational therapists how to become driver rehab specialists. She has volunteered for over 10 years with CarFit, serving as a CarFit instructor and the Pennsylvania CarFit Coordinator. She is a published author, adjunct professor, lecturer, podcaster and mentor.

In short, Susie is a self-proclaimed driving geek who uses her training to live her mission of providing exceptional care for all drivers and education for occupational therapy practitioners.

Fellowship Series: Pediatric Hand and Upper Extremity Therapy Fellowship with Mary “Peggy” Faussett, MOTR/L, CHT

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0400

On our third episode of our Fellowship Series, we are joined by Peggy Faussett, MOTR/L, CHT. Peggy is an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, which recently developed a pediatric hand therapy fellowship that will admit its first fellow at the end of this summer. Peggy discusses the process of developing a fellowship, how she worked with her institution for financial and administrative support, the curriculum of the fellowship, and the various learning opportunities the fellow will have.

Guest Bio: Peggy Faussett, MOTR/L, CHT received her Bachelors of Science in Exercise Science from Creighton University in Omaha, NE in 1999 and her Masters of Occupational Therapy from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA in 2001. She became a certified hand therapist in 2012. he works at Children's Hospital Colorado (CHCO) as the Pediatric Hand Therapy Program Coordinator and Fellowship Coordinator in the department of Occupational Therapy. She and her team of eight CHT's and four pediatric OT's work with patients from new babies to young adults with upper extremity congenital, traumatic, and systemic conditions. Together they provide hand therapy services in the NICU, in-patient, emergency room, operating room, out-patient clinics, and multidisciplinary clinics at multiple CHCO locations across Colorado. She has presented on topics related to pediatric hand therapy nationally and internationally. She serves locally on the board for the Denver Hand SIG and nationally for ASHT Education Division Pediatric Committee.

Fellowship Series: Perspectives From a Past Fellow with Kristen Cullers Slone, MSOT, OTR

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 04:00:00 -0400

On the second episode of our Fellowship Series, we are joined by Kristen Slone, MSOT, OTR, an occupational therapist who completed a hand and upper extremity therapy fellowship in Houston, TX this past year. Kristen shares with us her many experiences from her fellowship in an outpatient orthopedic setting, including the opportunities she had to shadow surgeons in the office and operating room, orthoses she fabricated, and how she eventually transitioned from a fellow to a full-time staff therapist.

Guest Bio:

Kristen Cullers Slone, MSOT, OTR is an occupational therapist at Houston Methodist Sports and Orthopedics in Clear Lake, TX. Kristen completed the Houston Methodist Hand Fellowship in July of 2021. Raised in Wharton, Texas, she completed her undergraduate degree at Texas A&M University and her master’s degree at Abilene Christian University. Driven by her interest in hand and upper extremity therapy, she takes pride in proving the best care to her patients and plans to take the CHT Exam this year. Outside of work, Kristen enjoys playing tennis and taking care of Brahman cattle on her family’s ranch.

Fellowship Series: Views From a Current Hand and Upper Extremity Therapy Fellow

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 04:00:00 -0400

We are kicking off a series of episodes on hand and upper extremity therapy fellowships. On this episode, we are joined by the two current hand and upper extremity therapy fellows from Johns Hopkins. They share with us how their fellowship is structured, what their typical week is like, and educational opportunities both in the clinic and out. If you are considering applying for a fellowship, they both give great advice as to what to consider when choosing a fellowship to apply for.

Guest Bio:

Hannah Enright is from St. Louis, MO that earned her undergraduate degree at Missouri State University. She graduated from OT school in December 2019 from Maryville University in St. Louis. She began her practice specializing in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation at Select Physical Therapy before beginning her hand therapy fellowship at Johns Hopkins University beginning in September 2021. Clinical interests include trauma-informed care, orthotics, wound care, flexor tendon repairs and nerve transfers.

Rachel Park is an occupational therapist from Los Angeles, CA and a current hand therapy fellow at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. She earned her BA in sociology, Master’s and Doctorate of Occupational Therapy degrees at the University of Southern California in 2017, 2019, and 2020 respectively. She began her journey in specializing in hand therapy at a private, outpatient clinic in Santa Monica, CA called Hands on OT and hopes to achieve her educational goal of earning a certification in hand therapy (CHT). Her clinical interests include pain management, return to meaningful activities, and post-operative rehabilitation.

Wound Care in Hand and Upper Extremity Therapy with Nora Barrett, OTR/L, CHT, WCC

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 04:00:00 -0400

Nora Barrett, OTR/L, CHT, WCC joins us to talk about wound care in hand and upper extremity therapy and her recent journey to obtain her certification in wound care. She gives us the most up-to-date information on assessing and treating wounds, and also shares some clinical pearls of what to do, what not to do and how we as hand therapists can advocate for our patients and their wounds.

Guest Bio:

Nora has been a practicing occupational therapist since 1998 and a certified hand therapist since 2006. She spent her early career as an inpatient therapist at rehabilitation centers, acute care hospitals and burn units in Boston, MA and Washington, DC before focusing on outpatient hands in Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD and Bend, OR. Nora moved to Charlottesville, VA in 2021 and joined the Hand Therapy Team at the University of Virginia Physicians Group where she works in the Hand Center and in an outpatient hand therapy practice. She received her Wound Care Certification in 2020 and is an active member of the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) and the American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS). She lectures routinely in wound care, burn therapy, trauma and peripheral nerve injury for ASHT, AAHS and various universities across the country.

References :

Wound Care References
Baranoski S, Ayello E. Wound Care Essentials: Practice Principles. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2015.
Broussard KC, Powers, et al. Wound dressings: selecting the most appropriate type. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2013; 14(6):449-459.
Eming S. Biology of Wound Healing. In: Bolognia JL, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:2413-2424.e1.
Lammers RL, Aldy KN. Principles of Wound Management. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB.
Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:621-654.
Leaper DJ, Schultz G, Carville K, Fletcher J, Swanson T, Drake R. Extending the TIME concept: what have we learned in the past 10 years? International Wound Journal. 2014; 9 (Suppl.2):1-19.
McVeigh K, Herman M, Barrett N. Physiology of Wound Healing and Burns. In: Test Prep for the CHT Exam. 4th ed. American Society of Hand Therapists; 2021.
Myers BA. Wound Management: Principles and Practices. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson; 2020.
Newell KA. Wound Closure. In: Dehn R, Asprey D. Essential Clinical Procedures. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:325-348.
Norman G, Dumville JC, Mohapatra DP, Owens GL, Crosbie EJ. Antibiotics and antiseptics for surgical wound healing by secondary intention (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016; 3. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011712.pub.2.
Parrish KP, Barrett NE. Wound classification and management. In: Skirven TM, Osterman LA,
Fedorczyk JM, Amadio PC, Feldscher SB, Shin EK. Rehabilitation of the Hand and Upper Extremity. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:196-209.
Sen CK, Roy S, Gordillo G. Wound Healing. In: Gurtner GC, Neligan PC. Plastic Surgery: Volume 1: Principles. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:165-195.e7.

ASHT Upper Extremity Institute with Alessia Kerner, OTR/L, CHT

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode we talk with Alessia Kerner, OTR/L, CHT, who was instrumental in developing a new format for the ASHT Upper Extremity Institute. We discuss how the Upper Extremity Institute was first developed and how it can be a great resource for new grads or seasoned therapists who are new to hand therapy. Alessia also gives us a preview of what’s to come with the Upper Extremity Institute.

Guest Bio:

Alessia is a graduate of Quinnipiac University with a degree in occupational therapy. After practicing in adult rehabilitation, Alessia specialized in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation and became a CHT in 2005. Currently, she practices in an outpatient clinic in Southern California.

Since 2014, Alessia has volunteered with ASHT on both the Practice and Education Divisions, most recently acting as chair of the Upper Extremity Institute. In addition to her volunteer work with ASHT, she serves as the President of the Hand Therapy Society of Greater Orange County.

When not doing activities related to hand therapy, Alessia is most often found spending time with family and friends. She loves being outdoors, trying new foods, reading, traveling, and crafting with wood, fabric, or metal.

Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation with Lynn Bassini MA OTR CHT

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 04:00:00 -0400

Lynn Bassini, MA, OTR, CHT, founder of the Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation, joins us to share her love and passion for helping the people of this nation. Each year, she takes a team of surgeons and therapists to perform surgery and postop care as well as educate medical personnel in Guatemala. She shares with us how the Foundation started, the mission of the organization, and what to expect if you were to join her for a mission trip to Guatemala.

Guest Bio:

Originally from Guatemala City, Lynn graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1977 with a BS in Occupational Therapy and in 1982 a Masters in Biomechanics and Ergonomics from New York University. She has been a hand therapist since the foundation of the American Society of Hand Therapists in 1977. From 1979 to 1982 she was a therapist and chief at Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.

Lynn has been in private practice for over 40 years, specializing in both adult and pediatric patients with upper extremity injuries and challenges.

In 1991 Lynn passed the first certification in hand therapy ever offered and later became an item writer for the Hand Certification Exam.

She has presented at many conferences and published several research papers and book chapter co-authored with a hand surgeon. In 1998 she became the recipient of the Vargas Award and traveled with Dr. Alan Freeland to Venezuela. In 2001 she was asked to serve a three year term in the Board of the AAHS and in 2004 organized and led the Vargas mission to Guatemala. Lynn was awarded the 2006 Paul Brand Award and the American Association for Hand Surgery Humanitarian Award in 2016.

In 2004 Lynn founded The Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation (GHHF/Guatemalahands.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality and availability of health care in Guatemala through education, hand surgery, hand therapy and community assistance. We have completed 13 missions and planning our next

mission tentative Nov 2022. Several children needing critical surgery were also identified during our missions. We assisted in getting the authorizations to operate in the US thanks to our network of dedicated professionals. GHHF’s projects between missions continue which include supporting a village through the critical times of covid, food, shelter and health insecurity while providing continued educational and clinic support to the children of Chichoy Alto, in Guatemala.

In 2021 Lynn relocated to Los Angeles and is now working for Select Physical Therapy.

AHTF Grants and How to Apply with April Cowan, OTR, OTD, CHT

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode, we are joined by April Cowan, OTR, OTD, CHT to discuss grant funding that the American Hand Therapy Foundation (AHTF) has to offer. AHTF has funding available for research and educational purposes. Often, this funding is not awarded because there are no applications received. April shares with us the various grants that are awarded by the AHTF and how to apply and make your application stand out.

A grant for a novice researcher:

https://www.ahtf.org/grants/burkhalter-new-investigator-grant/

A grant for the experienced researcher:

https://www.ahtf.org/grants/asht-founders-award/

Researchers seeking seed funds or to complete a pilot study:

https://www.ahtf.org/grants/judy-bell-krotoski-grab-the-evidence-award/

Guest Bio:

April C. Cowan, OTD, OTR, CHT, graduated from the University of Texas Medical Branch in 1990. She achieved the Certified Hand Therapist specialization in 2002 and earned a post-professional doctorate in occupational therapy in 2012. Dr. Cowan is a faculty member within the Occupational Therapy Department in the School of Health Professions at the University of Texas Medical Branch. She is an Associate Professor and teaches classes in the management of upper extremity conditions, capstone project development, and evidence-based practice. Her teaching duties include development and delivery of educational curricula to both entry-level and post-professional doctoral students, including functioning as the Program Director for the post-professional program. She advises students on the completion of systematic reviews and clinical capstone projects in upper extremity rehabilitation. She engages in hand therapy clinical practice in the university-sponsored clinic for underserved persons in the local community. A favored professional accomplishment is her work as the Director of Grants for the American Hand Therapy Foundation.

Arthritis Foundation with Rebecca Gillett MS, OTR/L

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Hands in Motion, we are joined by Rebecca Gillett, MS, OTR/L with the Arthritis Foundation. We discuss the mission of the foundation and how the foundation is working to educate both individuals affected by arthritis and the clinicians who treat them. We learn about the wide variety of resources they have available on their website specifically for this population.

Below are several links that are referenced in the show.

Main website: www.arthritis.org

Vim pain app: (download Vim Pain App from your app store) Find info and links at www.arthritis.org/vim

Podcast: www.arthritis.org/liveyes/podcast

YES (Your Exercise Solution) Resource: www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/physical-activity/getting-started/your-exercise-solution

Walk with Ease program: https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/physical-activity/walking/walk-with-ease

Ease of Use: https://www.arthritis.org/partnership/ease-of-use

Guest Bio:

Rebecca Gillett, MS OTR/L is a licensed occupational therapist with extensive experience working with both children and adults.

Rebecca is the Director of Content Strategy and Planning at the Arthritis Foundation and hosts the Live Yes! With Arthritis podcast. It’s her job to ensure the resources and education produced at the Arthritis Foundation have patient voices, questions, and concerns at their center. She earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University and her Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication from the University of Florida.

Her clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist in a variety of settings provides her with a broad knowledge of skills, but she also brings her personal experience of living with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, giving her a unique perspective as a health care professional. She also teaches continuing education courses to other therapists related to arthritis interventions.

Prior to her OT career, she worked in broadcast journalism and marketing. She has been featured in AOTA’s OT Practice publication for her efforts to grow the field of OT to help others with rheumatic diseases.

Treating the Musician with Aviva Wolff, EdD, OT, CHT

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 04:00:00 -0400

On this episode we are joined by Aviva Wolff, EdD, OT, CHT who has taken a special interest in working with injured musicians. She has had the opportunity to work with musicians of all skill levels who play all types of musical instruments. We discuss the unique characteristics of musicians and the types of injuries they sustain as well as the importance of a thorough assessment to fully understand their craft.

Aviva references two articles she authored, and the links are below:

Return to Play Guide Following Injury:

https://www.musichandstherapy.com/return-to-play/2021/9/30/return-to-play-guide-following-injury

Source: http://www.musichandstherapy.com/

A Musician-centered Approach to Management of Performance-related Upper Musculoskeletal Injuries

https://www.jhandtherapy.org/article/S0894-1130(21)00053-3/fulltext

Source: http://www.jhandtherapy.org/

Guest Bio:

Aviva Wolff, EdD, OT, CHT is an occupational therapist and clinician-scientist with a strong background in motor control and movement analysis and extensive experience working with performing artists and individuals with musculoskeletal injuries. She currently consults for the Julliard School and runs the upper extremity clinical movement analysis programs and hand and wrist biomechanics research at the Leon Root, MD Motion Analysis Laboratory at Hospital for Special Surgery.

Her research interest is the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal occupational overuse injuries through personalized approaches that are patient and occupation centered. She utilizes quantitative and qualitative analysis of upper extremity movement dysfunction to generate data to better inform surgery therapy and performance. Her passion project is to promote musculoskeletal health and wellness through formalized education programs to avoid musculoskeletal occupational overuse injuries in musicians.

Her research has focused on upper extremity injury prevention in musicians, wrist biomechanics and function, elbow biomechanics and function, hand and arm function in brachial plexus injury and cerebral palsy. She has independently led and collaborated with orthopedic surgeons, scientists, and biomechanists on several funded studies that have led to multiple presentations and publications.

Dr. Wolff has served in various leadership capacities in multiple professional organizations.

Hand Therapy In the Military with Major Kathryn Brosseau. MAJ, USAF, BSC, OTR/L, CHT

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 04:00:00 -0400

This week, we celebrate Veteran’s Day and are so fortunate to be joined on this episode by an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist who serves in the United States Air Force. We discuss the role of a hand therapist in the military, her unique journey from civilian status to being commissioned, and how a hand therapist contributes to the overall mission of the United States Military.

Guest Bio:

Major Brosseau is the Executive Officer and Instructor of Biology, Department of Biology, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO. She and her team design and implement biology coursework designed to create awareness, appreciation, and an understanding of science and the principles of scientific reasoning for Academy Cadets. She is an instructor of Human Anatomy & Physiology and the Course Director for Biomechanics. Major Brosseau received a direct commission to the Air Force as an Occupational Therapist in 2012. She has served in numerous medical operational support assignments, including Element Chief of Occupational Therapy and Chiropractics at the 60th Medical Group, Travis AFB, and the 10th Medical Group, United States Air Force Academy. She was selected for physician extender training in the management of complex hand injuries through AFIT and is now is the primary consultant to the Air Force for specialized upper extremity orthopedic rehabilitation. In addition to this, she has performed as adjunct faculty to the Air Force’s sole Physical Therapy Fellowship for four years. In 2019, she was awarded Adjunct Faculty of the Year and was published in the leading upper extremity post-operative rehabilitation textbook. In 2021, she was bestowed the honor of Biomedical Sciences Educator of the Year.

2021 Annual Meeting Recap

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Join Cara Smith, PT, DPT, CHT and Stephanie Strouse, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, “Hands in Motion” podcast hosts, as they recap the 2021 Annual Meeting in a special bonus podcast episode! This year’s ASHT Annual Meeting in St. Louis, MO was the first hybrid model offering both a live and virtual option for attendees, which proved to be a success. On this episode, Cara and Stephanie speak with a variety of course attendees including students, seasoned presenters, ASHT board members and ASHT staff members on a variety of topics. Listen to the attendees’ thoughts on the meeting content, the unveiling of the new ASHT logo, and more!

Host Bios:

Stephanie Strouse, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Stephanie has been practicing occupational therapy for over 28 years with the majority of her practice dedicated to the treatment of hand and upper extremity injuries. She graduated in 1992 with an associates degree in Applied Science and progressed to earn her bachelors degree in 2002 and doctoral degree in 2015. In 2016, she earned the designation of Certified Hand Therapist and has continued to practice in an outpatient setting.

Stephanie is actively involved in the Education Division for the American Society of Hand Therapists since 2015 and served as an ASHT board intern in 2018. Stephanie is also a mother of three children and owns her own yoga studio and enjoys boating, hiking, crafting and spending down time with her family.

Cara Smith, PT, DPT, CHT

Cara graduated from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center with a Master of Physical Therapy in 2007. She completed the Evelyn J. Mackin Hand Therapy Fellowship in 2010 and became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2013. In 2020, she earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Arcadia University.

Cara is the Hand Therapy Program Coordinator at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. The majority of her clinical practice has been in pediatric orthopedics, working alongside orthopedic surgeons in multidisciplinary clinics taking care of children with congenital and acquired conditions, as well as traumatic injuries.

Little League Elbow with Elliot Greenberg, PT, DPT, PhD

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode of “Hands in Motion” we are joined by Elliot Greenberg, a physical therapist who treats adolescent athletes. One specific population he treats are kids who suffer from medial epicondyle apophysitis, commonly known as “Little League Elbow.” We discuss risk factors for developing this condition, treatment techniques that upper extremity therapists can utilize, and the importance of patient and family education.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Greenberg is a board certified orthopaedic clinical specialist and researcher at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he has been specializing in the care of youth athletes since 2008. He received his bachelors degree in Biology from Pace University, his clinical doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from Arcadia University and his PhD in physical therapy from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Greenberg maintains an active research agenda focused on improving rehabilitation and injury prevention methods within youth athletes with a special interest in ACL reconstruction and overuse injuries.

In addition to his clinical role, Dr. Greenberg holds an adjunct faculty position at Arcadia University where he teaches within the entry-level DPT, transitional DPT and orthopaedic residency curriculum. Dr. Greenberg maintains an active role in several professional organizations, serving as the Education Chair of the Youth Athlete Special Interest Group of the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy and serves on the Board of Directors for the Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine (PRiSM) Society.

Dr. Greenberg has had the privilege of presenting at both state and national level conferences on the topics of pediatric and adolescent sports medicine rehabilitation. He is an accomplished researcher and writer authoring textbook chapters and several manuscripts published in highly respected journals.

Happy Physical Therapy Month! Spotlight on PTs in Hand Therapy with Jane Fedorczyk, PT, PhD, CHT

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0400

In recognition of National Physical Therapy Month we want to celebrate our physical therapy colleagues who specialize in treating the upper extremity and are excited to have Jane Fedorcyzk, PT, PhD, CHT, a long-time advocate of physical therapy and upper extremity rehab. Jane is the current President of the American Physical Therapy Association Hand and Upper Extremity Academy. We will discuss ways that the academy is promoting upper extremity physical therapy, creating resources for therapy practice, and engaging their members to advocate for the profession.

Guest Full Name Including Credentials:

Jane Fedorczyk, PT, PhD, CHT has practiced in hand therapy for 35 years and has been an educator for 28 years in physical, occupational, and hand therapy. She is the Director of the Center of Hand and Upper Limb Health and Performance at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Her research emphasizes optimizing performance in the hand and upper limb musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. Jane frequently presents at conferences throughout the US and internationally. She has published chapters in Rehabilitation of the Hand and Upper Extremity, 4th -7th editions and is a co-editor for the 6th and 7th editions. Jane has also published in the Journal of Hand Therapy, Journal of Orthopedic Research, and Clinics in Sports Medicine.

In 2018, Jane was awarded the Nathalie Barr Lectureship Award for her contributions and leadership to hand therapy. She is a servant leader. Jane was ASHT President in 2015. She is currently the President of the Academy of Hand & Upper Extremity PT, an APTA component. She was recently appointed to serve on the board of the Hand Surgery Endowment, AAHS. During her career, Jane has served on many committees within ASHT, APTA, ASSH, and AAHS. She served on the boards of AAHS, AHTF, ASHT, and the Hand Rehabilitation Foundation.

Engaging Entry-Level Students in Hand Therapy with Nathan Short, PhD, OTD, OTD/L, CHT

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we are joined by Nathan Short, an occupational therapist and hand therapist that splits his time between the clinic and the classroom. Nathan has a strong interest in preparing his students to be successful in a hand therapy clinic on their clinical rotations and as they start their journey to become certified hand therapists. We will discuss his research findings and how the occupational therapy program he is a faculty member of has worked to engage their students in hand and upper extremity therapy.

Guest Bio:

Nathan Short is an associate professor with the Huntington University OTD program and is clinically-active in hand and upper extremity rehab. He received his OTD from Belmont University and his PhD from Kingston University in London, England. He leads a partnership with Huntington University and Joni and Friends’ Cause4Life, providing seating and mobility services for people with disabilities in developing countries. Nathan is the author of Functional Anatomy for Occupational Therapy and its complimentary e-textbook OT Guide to Goniometry and MMT which are scheduled for publication later this year through Books of Discovery.

Moving Into Academia: Post-professional Doctorate (OTD, DPT) vs PhD with Rebecca Neiduski, PhD, OTR/L, CHT

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0400

All of us have experienced academia as students, but have you ever considered moving out of the clinic and back into the classroom as an occupational or physical therapist? This podcast episode features Becky Neiduski, an OT, CHT, who soon after beginning her career as an occupational therapist found herself back in the classroom and never looked back. Becky offers some great tips on the variety of ways clinicians can get involved in educating the next generation of OTs and PTs as well as how to transition full-time into academia.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Rebecca Neiduski received a Bachelor of Arts in Health, Kinesiology and Leisure Studies from Purdue University; a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis; and a PhD in Educational Foundations from Saint Louis University.

Becky spent the first part of her career in St. Louis, Missouri, practicing as a hand therapist at the Milliken Hand Rehabilitation Center for 15 years, teaching at Maryville University for 10 years, and practicing at Shriner’s Hospital for Children for six years. She continued her academic journey with a move into administration and served as the Occupational Therapy Department Chair at Concordia University Wisconsin from 2013-2017. Becky relocated to Burlington, North Carolina in 2017 to serve as the Dean of the School of Health Sciences at Elon University.

In concert with her academic appointments, she has consistently pursued professional leadership, scholarly, and humanitarian activities. Becky recently completed a second term as the Annual Meeting Chair for the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) and contributes to the Reverse Fellowship Task Force and the Hand Surgery Endowment Board of Governors for the American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS). The majority of her scholarly work over the past 20 years has focused on application of the literature related to flexor tendon repair and rehabilitation. Her goal in publication and presentation is to advance clinical reasoning and ultimately maximize outcomes for patients with this complex and precarious diagnosis. She has offered education to therapists around the world, including Romania, Canada, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Guatemala. Becky has also provided occupational and hand therapy services in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Cambodia, bringing over 50 students on 17 medical missions over the past 13 years.

She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for several organizations, including the Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation, the Alamance County YMCA, and the Hospice and Palliative Care Center of Alamance Caswell. Becky was honored with the 2014 Paul Brand Award for Professional Excellence and the 2016 Nathalie Barr Lectureship Award from the American Society of Hand Therapists.

The New ASHT Journal Club Format with Sarah Doerrer, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, CLT

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Welcome back to another episode of Hands in Motion. We’re your hosts, Cara Smith and Stephanie Strouse. On this episode we’re going to be discussing a benefit that all ASHT members have complimentary access to - the monthly Journal Club. Each month, the Research Division holds a Journal Club to review a recent article from the Journal of Hand Therapy and discuss its clinical relevance. We are joined today by Journal Club Chair Sarah Doerrer, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, CLT, to learn how the Journal Club works, how members can participate, and how students interested in hand and upper extremity therapy can participate and increase their exposure to clinical research. Recently, the Journal Club moved to a more interactive platform and format to allow greater insight and communication for participants. Each Journal Club is one hour and offers one continuing education hour, or 0.1 CEU.

Guest Bio:

Sarah Doerrer has been a practicing occupational therapist since 2001. She has primarily worked in outpatient rehabilitation with a focus on upper extremity orhtopedics and is a Certified Hand Therapist and Certified Lymphedema Therapist.

Sarah earned her PhD in the philosophy of Occupational Therapy in 2019 from Nova Southeastern University and her Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2001 from Misericordia University. She is an adjunct professor for multiple local OT programs in the DC metro area. Sarah completed her research residency at George Washington University in 2015 and received the Burkhalter New Investigator Grant in 2017 for her research in distal radius fractures.

She was elected to the ASHT Research Division in 2018 and is the current chair of the ASHT Journal Club. Most recently, Sarah co-authored an article published in the Journal of Hand Therapy with members of the Research Division and has taught educational courses and presented her research at the ASHT 2019 Annual Conference in Washington DC.

Working With The Athlete with Mo Herman, MA, OTR/L, CHT

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Hey, it’s Cara and Steph back for another episode of Hands in Motion. With all the buzz about the Olympics last month, it’s only fitting to discuss working with injured athletes on this episode. We are really excited about our guest today, Mo Herman, MA, OTR/L, CHT, immediate past president of ASHT. Fun fact about Mo is that she is an Olympic athlete herself and has used her experience as an elite level athlete to work alongside athletes each day in the clinic to return them to their sport. Welcome to Hands in Motion, Mo Herman.

Mo is a former Olympic swimmer and graduate of USC’s Occupational Therapy Program. She has over 20 years of clinical experience, where her practice emphasis is rehabilitation of elite and professional athletes. Mo is currently serving as Immediate Past President for the American Society of Hand Therapists.

American Hand Therapy Foundation: Funding and Foundation Goals with James W. King, OTR, PhD, CHT

Mon, 02 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode of Hands in Motion we are joined by the chairman of the American Hand Therapy Foundation, James King, to discuss what AHTF does as an organization, how they support the profession of hand therapy through research and education, and the collaboration between the tri-alliance of AHTF, ASHT, and HTCC.

Jim has over 40 years of experience as a licensed occupational therapist and certified hand therapist with extensive knowledge and background in clinical rehabilitation of the hand and upper extremity, work-related assessment and ergonomic work design, outpatient rehabilitation, and health care management, administration, and business development. He has been a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and Texas Occupational Therapy Association since 1979.

With over 150 local, state, national, and international professional presentations, as well as multiple clinical and business publications to his name, Dr. King is a lifetime fellow and past president of the American Society of Hand Therapists, and 2003 recipient of the Nathalie Barr Lectureship, ASHT’s highest award. He is an editorial board member of the Journal of Hand Therapy, and Vice Chair of the American Hand Therapy Foundation.

He currently holds the position of Managing Partner for the Southeast Texas Rehabilitation Network in Houston, Texas, and is a full-time clinician and researcher.

Dr. King earned his bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and a master’s degree and PhD from Texas Woman’s University. In his doctoral dissertation, Dr. King explored psychosocial factors in the development and progression of cumulative trauma disorders and then used the findings to develop and test a curriculum designed to guide healthcare professionals with a person-centered approach.

The Expert Witness - Michael Gerg, DOT, OTR/L, CEES, CWCE

Mon, 19 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode of “Hands in Motion” we are diving into a discussion in an area of practice that most hand therapists would never find on their radar. We are joined by Michael Gerg, DOT, OTR/L, CHT, CEES, CWCE, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist who serves as an expert witness. He will explain what an expert witness is and how a hand therapist’s knowledge and practice experience is utilized in the legal system.

Dr. Michael J. Gerg, DOT, OTR/L, CHT, CEES, CWCE is the Program Coordinator of the Occupational Therapy program at the Creighton University Health Sciences Campus in Phoenix, AZ. He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University School of Liberal Arts and the Temple University School of Health Professions and Social Work. He has been a practicing occupational therapist for 26 years and has obtained additional certifications in hand therapy, work capacity evaluation, and ergonomic evaluation. In the past, Dr. Gerg has worked clinically for Magee Rehabilitation and Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Valley Health in Winchester, Virginia where he helped to build a successful industrial wellness and ergonomic consulting practice.

After beginning his healthcare career in mental health, he has gained extensive clinical practice experience in a variety of adult physical disability settings including outpatient hand therapy, acute care, acute rehabilitation, long-term care, and outpatient rehabilitation. He has had full time academic appointments as the Director of Student Progression and Retention at A. T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona; Program Director of an Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Clinical Instructor/Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and has been an Adjunct faculty member at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia in the Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Training programs. His special interests include hand therapy, ergonomic worksite evaluation, legal expert consulting, Industrial Wellness, injury prevention research and training, and Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE).His research interests include hand therapy, ergonomics, community access for persons with disabilities, and occupational therapy practice in work and industry. He has published research on the ergonomics of text messaging, written various articles and fact sheets for AOTA, has published book chapters on Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Occupational Therapy intervention with injured workers.

Dr. Gerg continues to be involved in clinical hand therapy practice and operates a small ergonomic consulting and legal expert practice. He has worked extensively with injured and disabled workers of various levels of ability to assist them in pursuing a means of earning a living that is also meaningful and fulfilling. He previously served as the Chairperson of the Work and Industry Special Interest Section of the American Occupational Therapy Association. When not working, he finds biking, hiking, traveling, and playing competitive amateur billiards fulfilling.

Telehealth: Where Are We Now, and Where Are We Going? Featuring Michelle Coil, OTR, CHT, PYT, CEAS I, CEO Virtual Hand Care LLC

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0400

2020 brought many challenges to not only our personal lives but also our professional lives. Many of us had to rethink the way that we provided hand therapy services to our patients and jumped right into telehealth. Our guest today though is no stranger to telehealth. In 2018, she was looking for a new way to provide access to hand therapy and began seeing patients virtually. Now, one year into a pandemic, more patients are seeking telehealth services and finding value in this approach to therapy. In this episode, we will be discussing how hand therapy can be delivered through telehealth and how we as clinicians can show our consumers, payors, and referring providers the value of telehealth.

Guest Bio:

Michelle Coil graduated with her Masters of Occupational Therapy in 2004 and became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2012. She has spent 17 years in clinical practice in the treatment of hand and upper extremity rehabilitation. She holds additional certifications as an Ergonomic Assessment Specialist and Professional Yoga Therapist. In 2018, Michelle founded Virtual Hand Care, a telehealth practice devoted to creating accessible solutions for people with upper extremity injuries. She is a member of ASHT and has presented on telehealth at ASHT’s 2019 and 2020 national conferences. In addition, Michelle is a course creator, contributing author, consultant to clinicians, and founder of the resourceful Hand Nerds Facebook group.

Finding Value in Patient-Related Outcomes with Jenny Dorich, PhD (Candidate), MBA, OTR/L, CHT

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Finding value in patient-reported outcome measures in hand therapy is so important in times where most payors are looking for functional improvement and not just objective gains. To be honest, isn’t functional improvement the “why” as to what we do? How can these measurements be useful to you, as the clinician, and to your clients? By incorporating patient-related outcome measures into our assessment, we can ensure we are taking a client-centered approach to hand rehabilitation, placing focus on the clients’ goals. Join Stephanie and Cara for this eye-opening discussion with Jenny Dorich who has been researching the benefits of using these tools.

Guest Bio:

Jenny Dorich, PhD (Candidate), MBA, OTR/L, CHT is a clinician and researcher at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Her clinical expertise is in pediatric hand therapy. She has lectured regionally and nationally on a variety of topics pertaining to pediatric hand therapy. She is an author of multiple book chapters and peer reviewed publications. Jenny’s research focuses on patient outcomes in the pediatric hand therapy population. She is a member of the Research Division of the American Society of Hand Therapists.

Burnout in Hand Therapy with Lynn Festa, OTR, CHT, CDWF

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Many of us would be lying if we said we have never experienced burnout at some point in our career as hand therapists. Unfortunately, burnout is real and many therapists struggle with high job expectations but find it difficult to find balance. Today we are discussing burnout versus moral injury and what contributes to this. We are going to be picking the brain of today's guest, Lynn Festa, on how to recognize the signs and how to go about taking time for self-care.

Guest Bio:

Lynn Festa, OTR, CHT, CDWF, attained the hand therapy certification in 1995 and has worked as a clinician and business owner in a variety of settings for over 32 years. In 2012, she found herself disillusioned with her career in healthcare, prompting her journey to become a coach to other professionals who are also seeking more fulfillment from their careers. Lynn now combines her work as an OT with providing training and guidance to professionals in promoting wellness and resilience, and limiting burnout. She attained a certificate in positive psychology, a certificate in “the science of happiness at work,” and is a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator through The Daring Way ™. Lynn is also an HSP knowledgeable professional and loves to help others with Sensory Processing Sensitivity flourish in today’s hectic environment. She has presented at international, national and state conferences, webinars, keynotes and group workshops.

Pain-Guided Therapy

Mon, 24 May 2021 05:30:00 -0400

In this episode, we have an open discussion with Dr. Don Lalonde, MD, BSc, MSc, FRCSC on pain guided healing and pain guided therapy; how to use the pencil test and apply that to clinical practice; and the variety of ways to use a relative motion orthosis for our patients. Additionally, we touch upon how to incorporate true active flexion following flexor tendon repairs versus place and hold.

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Referenced Articles and Videos:

Youtube Link for WALANT Hand Therapy December 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgyTbiBuiVQ

Hand and Shoulder Webinar

http://www.mediafire.com/file/1t6w42o6vgj7d6o/hand+shoulder+therapy+webinar+Dec+7+2020+.mp4/file

Solving Hand/Finger Pain Problems with the Pencil Test and Relative Motion Splinting (including video)

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320477737_Solving_HandFinger_Pain_Problems_with_the_Pencil_Test_and_Relative_Motion_Splinting

The Road to the CHT

Mon, 10 May 2021 05:30:00 -0400

On this episode, Cara and Stephanie sit down with Christian Ely, MSOT, OTR/L, CHT, COMT-UE, CES to discuss how he prepared for the CHT exam. Christian sat for, and passed, the CHT exam in November 2020, so the study and preparation process is fresh in his mind. We begin with how he became interested in hand therapy and how he set his career in motion to become a CHT. Christian gives our listeners suggestions on when to begin studying, how he structured his study timeline, and how he thought outside the box in order to gain experience in treating the upper extremity. If you are sitting for the CHT exam or even thinking about it, you don’t want to miss this episode!

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Volunteering With ASHT

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 05:30:00 -0400

April 18-24 is National Volunteer Week and in honor of that, Hands in Motion is discussing the volunteer opportunities within the American Society of Hand Therapists. We will discuss micro-volunteering, division and committee membership, and how to be a part of the leadership within ASHT. The Society is almost completely run by volunteers who are ASHT members dedicating their time to advance the Society in areas of advocacy, education, therapist mentoring, research, state and federal regulations, content writers and more. Thinking about volunteering? Visit our website at https://www.asht.org/about/volunteer/my-opportunities

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Health Equity Lens

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 05:30:00 -0400

In our debut episode, we have the current American Society of Hand Therapists President, Rachel Pigott, MPH, OTR/L, CHT, discussing equity in hand therapy. We discuss how equal care is different from equitable care and how we as therapists can work to improve access to therapy services for all people groups. The COVID-19 pandemic required therapists to look at providing our services through a new lens and our profession discovered a way to reach our clients when we couldn’t be face to face. What if now we incorporated this approach to increase access to our specialty services to those clients with limited resources? Rachel also gives us suggestions on how we can advocate for equity in hand therapy.

Be sure to subscribe to the Hands in Motion Podcast. Once subscribed, please rate and review the podcast to help us reach new listeners and continue offering valuable and relevant content.