Hands In Motion

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.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.

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.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.

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.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.

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 [email protected]. Guest Bio:Stephanie Kannas, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, is the Director of the Occupational TherapyFellowship 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 theUniversity 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.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.

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.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.

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.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.

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.2021.02.005Practical 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.aspxBlood 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/fullGuest 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.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.

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: dssAnn 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. 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.

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, CHTDeana 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 ValastroCelebrity 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.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.

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. 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.

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.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.

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 practiceJournal 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 interventionJournal 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, UtahThe 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.

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, CHTGayle Severance MS, OT/L, CHT received her Occupational Therapy degree fromTufts University in 2000 and a certificate in Hand and Upper ExtremityRehabilitation from Drexel University in 2004. Gayle practices in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania and is the Hand Therapy Team Leader for Good Shepherd PennPartners, the official rehab provider for Penn Medicine. Her expertise is in the areaof elbows, wrists and hands. She helped develop the therapy program for Penn’sHand and Upper Extremity Transplant Program and serves as the lead therapist.Gayle is an active member of the American Society of Hand Therapists, theAmerican Association of Hand Surgery and the American Society for Surgery of theHand. In 2014 She has participated in international medical missions including hertravel to Kumasi, Ghana as the AAHS Vargas Award recipient. She continued tosupport 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 onthe international, national and local level.Team Lead Occupational TherapistSpecialtiesMusculoskeletalHand, Wrist and Elbow Danielle Zook OTD, MOT, OTR/L, CHTDanielle 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.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.

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 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.

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.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.

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 LinksCPG’s1. 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 Resources2. APTA Clinical Practice Guidelines: List of published CPG's3. APTA Evidence Based Practice Resources: (includes tests and measures, clinical summaries, interventions and link to CPG’s in progress) APTA EBP Resources4. Choose Wisely: Choose Wisely Clinician List5. Choose Wisely: Choose Wisely patient list6. 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 herDPT in 2019. She has practiced hand rehabilitation in a variety of settings on theEast 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.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.

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.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.

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.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.

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.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.

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.   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.

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.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.

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 ReferencesBaranoski 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.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.

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.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.

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.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.

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.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.

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.orgVim pain app: (download Vim Pain App from your app store) Find info and links at www.arthritis.org/vimPodcast: www.arthritis.org/liveyes/podcastYES (Your Exercise Solution) Resource: www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/physical-activity/getting-started/your-exercise-solutionWalk with Ease program: https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/physical-activity/walking/walk-with-easeEase of Use: https://www.arthritis.org/partnership/ease-of-useGuest 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. 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.

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-injurySource: http://www.musichandstherapy.com/ A Musician-centered Approach to Management of Performance-related Upper Musculoskeletal Injurieshttps://www.jhandtherapy.org/article/S0894-1130(21)00053-3/fulltextSource: 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.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.

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.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.

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, CHTStephanie 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, CHTCara 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.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.

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. 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.

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.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.

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.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.

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 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.

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.   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.

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. 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.

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 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.

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.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.

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.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.

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.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. 

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.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.

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. 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.   Referenced Articles and Videos: Youtube Link for WALANT Hand Therapy December 2020https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgyTbiBuiVQ Hand and Shoulder Webinarhttp://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_SplintingThe 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.

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!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. 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.

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-opportunitiesBe 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. 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.

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. 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.