Hand Therapy Secrets | Helping Occupational Therapist Become Experts

What if the MRI isn't telling the whole story? Let's talk about a real patient case as we break down the critical thinking behind persistent wrist pain and why looking beyond the wrist can change your treatment approach.

Distal radius fracture rehab isn't just about waiting for the bone to heal. It's about knowing when to progress motion, how to teach exercises correctly, and recognizing that the elbow and shoulder can limit wrist recovery.

What do you do when a patient comes in just days after surgery for a finger fracture? I take you through my entire thought process—from deciding what orthosis to fabricate to determining when it's appropriate to begin gentle range of motion. Understanding why you're making each decision is just as important as knowing what to do.

What are the first things you should assess after a Dupuytren's release? Let's walk through the 3 things every therapist should address when it comes to evaluating and treating patients after a Dupuytren's release.

A patient came in with a distal radius fracture and an ulna styloid fracture. One of the first questions they asked was: "Why did they only fix one of the bones?" Questions like these come up all the time in hand therapy, and when you understand the anatomy and the reasoning behind the injury, you're able to educate your patients, build trust, and make better treatment decisi...