Instructional Concurrent Session 11

Hand therapy is the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper limb, which includes the hand, wrist, elbow, and shoulder girdle as defined by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission.  It’s well known within hand therapy that certified hand therapists enter practice as an occupational or physical therapist. Despite specialization, we retain the foundations of PT/OT practice to restore function and participation. Hand therapy professionals know their value but the communities they serve may not.

Moving beyond the traditional clinic with therapy practitioners sharing their expertise with community organizations, local businesses, and government work groups allows them to demonstrate their value. Traditionally, fitness events were emphasized, but hand therapy professionals are uniquely trained to improve participation within any environment. Many activities involve equipment with the hands and upper limbs in various positions such as gardening and yoga. Engaging in outreach to facilitate inclusion demonstrates the profession’s commitment to community well-being. 

While engaging in community activities that foster health, happiness, and unity is wonderful, there are times when local communities depend on therapy professionals for support. During gray skies such as hurricanes, the most vulnerable community members, as defined by the social determinants of health, require assistance for short- and long-term recovery to avoid negative health impact. When local governments review and update disaster management plans, hand/upper limb function may be overlooked compared to other special needs. Individuals with hand/ upper limb dysfunction face many challenges opening non-perishable food packages and performing disaster clean-up. Hand therapy professionals that contribute expertise to community groups will empower shelters and volunteers to meet the comprehensive needs of vulnerable community members impacted by disaster.

Community engagement is also a marketing tool, but working collaboratively with others will improve well-being and facilitate recovery when disaster strikes. The hand therapy value will be evident and viewed as essential to the community.

Level: All

This session presents a multidisciplinary approach to managing upper extremity manifestations of hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) and Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS). Patients often experience pain, recurrent instability, fatigue, and functional decline that challenge traditional rehabilitation and surgical models. Because strengthening alone does not address cumulative micro-instability, coordinated surgical and therapeutic strategies are critical.

Using a case-based format from a multidisciplinary hypermobility clinic, this session integrates surgical and rehabilitation perspectives. Surgical content will review connective tissue considerations, indications for stabilization procedures, and postoperative expectations. Rehabilitation content will emphasize motor control retraining, orthotic intervention, adaptive equipment, autonomic conditioning, endurance training, and load management to protect joint integrity.

Through guided discussion and clinical scenarios, participants will compare conservative and surgical approaches and explore strategies that enhance interdisciplinary communication and continuity of care.
 

Level: All

This session equips occupational and physical therapists with a focused, therapy relevant approach to assessing hand and upper extremity wounds to guide intervention including debridement and to prescribe dressings that support function, protection of healing structures, expeditious wound healing, and the ability to efficiently progress rehabilitation. Participants will integrate wound bed and periwound assessment, vascular status, pain, functional impact, and patient goals with current guidelines. The session combines brief evidence synthesis, wound photograph interpretation, and case vignettes. By the end of the session, therapists will perform systematic wound evaluations, make defensible treatment or referral decisions, and design patient centered plans that align with rehabilitation goals.

Nerve transfer rehabilitation is often complex and progresses in a nonlinear fashion. When recovery does not progress as expected, therapists play a pivotal role in recognizing complications and adjusting care. However, there are often limited resources available to guide the therapeutic management of suboptimal outcomes. 
This case-based session will provide therapists with practical strategies to optimize the recovery of patients experiencing suboptimal outcomes. Speakers will review and discuss patient selection criteria, surgical algorithms, and therapeutic management strategies that influence rehabilitation and clinical outcomes. Our experienced panel will share treatment pearls and clinical insights for managing challenging cases. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A, encouraging attendees to present and discuss their own difficult cases.

Level: Intermediate

This session will focus on strategies for hand therapists to learn and apply hands on evaluation and treatment techniques of the upper quadrant when nerve compression appears to be more proximal. This session will describe 3 main passageways that can be involved with upper quadrant compression, discuss cervical and thoracic spine segmental mobility, review common soft tissue culprits related to upper quadrant limitations and then perform a clinical examination: Roos test (elevated arm stress test), Cyriax release test, thoracic segmental mobility. Leave this course with confidence and an algorithm to bring back to your clinic to evaluate the kinetic chain when your patient comes in with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel..

Level: Intermediate