Do you have pain, stiffness, numbness, swelling or other issues that are affecting the use of your hands and arms? Do you find it difficult to do the things you love? Are you experiencing decreasing ability to use your hands for your work or your self-care?
The Certified Hand Therapists at Valley Medical Center & Clinics Outpatient Therapy Services can be a great resource for you.
A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is an occupational or physical therapist with advanced specialization in upper extremity rehabilitation. Here’s why seeing one can make a real difference for chronic hand, wrist, or forearm pain:
Specialized Expertise
CHTs have passed a rigorous certification exam and have thousands of hours of clinical experience focused specifically on the hand and upper extremity — far beyond what a general physical or occupational therapist receives in school. They understand the intricate anatomy of tendons, nerves, joints, and muscles from fingertip to shoulder. There are approximately 113 Certified Hand Therapists (CHTs) in Washington state and Valley Medical Center & Clinics has 3 Certified Hand Therapists.
Accurate Assessment
They can identify the root cause of your pain — whether it’s carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, trigger finger, nerve compression, arthritis, or something else — and distinguish between conditions that look similar but require quite different treatment.
Personalized Treatment Plans
Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, a CHT tailors’ treatment to your specific condition, lifestyle, and goals. This may include:
- Manual therapy (joint mobilization, soft tissue work)
- Therapeutic exercises to restore strength and range of motion.
- Nerve gliding techniques for nerve-related pain
- Desensitization programs for hypersensitivity or complex regional pain
- Education to provide better understanding of your condition, the rationale behind the treatments provided and knowledge to empower you to make good medical decisions in the treatment of your condition.
Custom Splinting & Orthotic Fabrication
CHTs are trained to design and fabricate custom splints that rest, protect, or reposition your hand and wrist in ways that off-the-shelf braces simply can’t match. This can be crucial for managing chronic pain and preventing further injury.
Pain Management Strategies
They use evidence-based modalities such as:
- Ultrasound therapy
- Electrical stimulation (TENS/NMES)
- Heat and cold therapy.
- Scar management techniques.
Ergonomic & Lifestyle Guidance
A CHT helps you identify daily habits, work setups, or repetitive movements that may be driving your pain and coaches you on modifications to reduce strain over the long term.
Coordination with Your Medical Team
CHTs work closely with hand surgeons, rheumatologists, and primary care physicians. They can help you avoid unnecessary surgery, or if surgery is needed, provide critical pre- and post-operative rehabilitation.
Functional Goal Setting
Chronic pain affects your ability to work, cook, type, play an instrument, or do countless daily tasks. CHTs focus on restoring function — not just reducing pain on a scale — so treatment is directly tied to what matters most to you.
Valley hand therapist Paul Levin, OTR/L, CHT states: “We are here for the community to increase their functional use of their hands, provide education, and help them continue doing the things that are important and bring meaning to life. If you are having trouble with your arm or hand function, please reach out to your primary care provider and ask for a referral—you may be surprised at all the helpful things you’ll learn during therapy!”
Meet Valley’s Hand Therapists.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for professional medical advice.
