Do you need to see a Certified Hand Therapist?
Imagine struggling to grip your coffee mug, soothing your baby with aching wrists, or feeling numbness after hours on your laptop. What if the hands you rely on to create, work, or care for your family suddenly became weak, painful, or stiff? It might be time to get professional help from a specialist.
What is Certified Hand Therapy?
A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is a highly trained Occupational or Physical Therapist who specializes in the rehabilitation of the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder.
🔹 Expert-Level Training: A CHT must have at least 4,000 hours of experience in hand therapy, a minimum of three years in practice, and must pass a rigorous board exam to ensure advanced clinical expertise.
🔹 Extensive Knowledge: CHTs understand nerves, muscles, bones, and tendons of the entire upper limb, making them essential for complex hand and arm conditions.
🔹 Exclusive Skillset: There are only about 7,000 CHTs in the world, meaning they are true specialists in their field.
Who Can Benefit?
Not everyone needs a Certified Hand Therapist. Many people recover using general therapy, online exercises, or non-specialized care.
However, CHT intervention is crucial when:
✅ You have an overuse injury that requires specific anatomical knowledge.
✅ You are recovering from a complex post-operative case.
✅ Your condition affects anatomically intricate areas that demand advanced treatment.
In fact, many hand surgeons and sports medicine doctors refer patients directly to a CHT for optimal recovery.
When to See a Certified Hand Therapist
🩺 Medically Complex & Post-Surgical Cases- If you’re dealing with serious hand trauma or post-surgical recovery, a CHT can help restore function and mobility.
🔹 Amputation Recovery
🔹 Flexor & Extensor Tendon Injuries (mallet finger)
🔹 Multiple Fractures (Hand, Wrist, Elbow, Shoulder)
🔹 Ligament Injuries (fingers, wrist, elbow)
🔹 Third-Degree Burns to the Hand & Arm
🔹 Nerve Transfers & Peripheral Nerve Injuries
🔹 Severe Swelling (Edema) & Chronic Pain Syndromes
🎸 Musicians & Performers- Years of wrist, finger, and elbow pain from hours of playing and practicing require precise care.
✔️ Why a CHT? A specialist will pinpoint the exact muscles causing your pain (out of 20 forearm muscles!) to ensure you don’t stop playing your instrument or develop chronic injuries from poor compensation patterns.
🎨 Artists & Designers- Hand fatigue, arthritis, and repetitive strain injuries from painting, sculpting, or digital work.
✔️ Why a CHT? They will identify which muscles are overworking and which nerves are compressed, creating a plan to restore pain-free movement.
💻 Tech Professionals & Gamers- Carpal tunnel, wrist stiffness, and elbow pain from coding, designing, and extended screen time.
✔️ Why a CHT? A specialist assesses your ergonomics, fabricates custom splints, and ensures your muscles aren’t compensating for weakness in ways that lead to more injury.
👶 New Parents- "Mommy wrist" (De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis) from lifting and carrying your baby repeatedly.
✔️ Why a CHT? New parents can’t stop using their hands, so a specialist can fabricate a custom orthosis for rest periods and provide safe movement modifications to reduce pain without disrupting daily caregiving.
🏋️ Rock Climbers & Athletes- Grip weakness, tendonitis, and overuse injuries affecting sports performance.
✔️ Why a CHT? Pain doesn’t always originate where you feel it. Wrist issues can stem from the shoulder! A CHT will help protect injured areas while optimizing movement patterns.
🛠️ Tradespeople & Manual Workers- Strains, sprains, and nerve compression from repetitive heavy lifting, tool use, and manual labor.
✔️ Why a CHT? Many labor-intensive jobs require manual therapy, strengthening, and documented progress reports to assist with workplace accommodations and long-term hand health.
If your hands are your livelihood or your lifeline, Certified Hand Therapy is your best investment.
Get Your Hands Back in Action
Your hands work hard for you! Make sure you take care of them.
✅ Don’t ignore pain, numbness, or weakness. Early intervention is key.
✅ Find a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) near you through the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) or ask your doctor for a referral.
✅ Book a session to start your recovery today
