Instructional Concurrent Session 2

Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Time: 2:15 PM to 3:15 PM

  • Building a Stronger Profession: Promoting Racial Diversity and Clinician Resilience in Hand Therapy

    Description

    This session tackles the barriers facing underrepresented clinicians, offering solutions for recruitment, retention, and mentorship. Learn how to create inclusive workplaces that foster resilience and improve patient care. Through case studies, we'll explore the interconnectedness of clinician and patient experiences, building a more diverse and collaborative hand therapy community.

    Level: Entry

    Objectives

    1. Analyze the impact of a lack of racial diversity in the hand therapy profession on both patient care and clinician well-being

    2. Apply practical strategies for recruiting, mentoring, and retaining therapists from underrepresented racial backgrounds in various clinical settings

    3. Evaluate the effectiveness of different diversity and inclusion initiatives in promoting clinician resilience

    Speakers
    Valerie Aziegbe, OTR/L, CHT, COEE

  • Promoting Awareness and Early Intervention for Pregnancy-Induced Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

    Description

    Through early intervention and a holistic, compassionate approach, I seek to improve care for mothers-to-be, ensuring they receive the relief and support they deserve during this transformative period of their lives. As we explore alternative treatment plans, I invite you to join me in rethinking and reshaping the care model for pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome so that the answer to discomfort is not, "your symptoms will stop postpartum," but rather, "we have an effective solution that addresses your needs today."

    Level: Entry

    Objectives

    1. Develop a plan on how to collaborate with fellow therapists and healthcare providers to increase awareness, understanding, and effective treatment approaches for pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome

    2. Understand how to disseminate knowledge and create resources for treatment team members in women's health in order to increase their understanding of resources that can be utilized to address pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome

    3. Describe how to integrated a holistic wellness approach in order to improve the management and treatment of pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome

    Speakers
    Laurie Pacheco, BS, MA, CHT

  • The Hypermobile Hand: Evidence-based Evaluation and Treatment Solutions

    Description

    What is a hand therapist to do when a client presents with a swan neck deformity and a boutonniere deformity in the same digit? Explore evidence-based strategies for evaluating and treating clients with hypermobile hands and connective tissue disorders. This practical hands-on session covers biomechanical influences, comprehensive evaluation, proprioceptive training, and examines the practice application of the Occupational Adaptation model to reduce pain and improve function. Engage in demonstrations, activities, and video analysis to refine biomechanical assessment and holistic treatment techniques. Walk away with practical solutions that incorporate joint protection, enhance stability through neuromuscular control training, manage persistent pain, and optimize holistic health through facilitated adaptation for clients with hypermobility.

    Level: Intermediate

    Objectives

    1. Apply biomechanical principles, proprioceptive rehabilitation principles, and the Occupational Model for Adaptation in the comprehensive evaluation and treatment of clients presenting with hand pain and digital joint hypermobility

    2. Differentiate between anatomical structures contributing to swan neck and boutonniere deformity in the hypermobile hand

    3. Design creative treatment plans incorporating orthoses, adaptive equipment, and adaptive technique to support client independence and management of chronic disorders and persistent pain

    Speakers
    Jamie Bergner, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, COMT

  • When the Glove Doesn't Fit: Applying Lymphedema Techniques to Treat Severe Edema

    Description

    Your complex post-operative patient is experiencing worsening edema, with significant loss of motion and intense pain. The limb size exceeds the fit for an over-the-counter compression glove, and your standard management techniques have proven ineffective. So, what do you do when the glove doesn’t fit? This presentation will focus on using manual lymphatic drainage and compression therapy to manage severe edema in complex cases. Participants will gain valuable skills for effective edema treatment while exploring innovative ways to repurpose commonly available equipment as alternatives to specialized lymphedema bandages. Join us in fostering resourcefulness and sustainability in edema management to enhance patient outcomes!

    Level: Entry

    Objectives

    1. Analyze the limitations of commonly used edema management tools in the treatment of severe sub-acute edema in patients with chronic regional pain syndrome after a comminuted distal radius fracture

    2. Evaluate how factors such as bandage layers, tension, and limb circumference influence the efficacy and safety of compression therapy

    3. Design and apply effective compressive bandages by repurposing readily available resources in outpatient hand clinics as alternatives to specialized lymphedema bandages

    Speakers
    Jessica Si, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CLT, COEE