A crucial part of recovery from a physical ailment lies in occupational therapy.  Thankfully, highly specialized therapists exist to guide people through the treatment and recovery process. One such expert is a hand therapist, whose specialty is worth exploring.

A certified hand therapist can use his or her practice to bring the many benefits of occupational therapy to your life.

How They Treat

Certified hand therapists have no shortage of expertise—to achieve their certification they must have worked in the field for a minimum of five years, had 4,000 + hours in the area of practice and passed a difficult exam that traditionally has only a 40 percent pass rate. Across the globe, there are only 5,300 certified hand therapists—and two of those are in Sioux Falls at Orthopedic Institute (OI). Hand therapists work alongside occupational therapists, physical therapists and orthopedic surgeons to help bring new vigor not only to hands but also wrists, elbows and shoulders affected by any of the following:

• Rheumatoid and osteo arthritis
• Congenital deformities
• Traumatic amputations or injuries
• Wounds and infections
• Joint replacement
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Stroke-related contractures
• Postoperative rehabilitation
• Chronic pain/ Work-related injuries

Restored Function

One of the most satisfying parts of hand therapy is the feeling of restored function. The whole arm is vital to  pivotal tasks. Experiencing pain or loss of function would be hard on anyone.  Many of the listed conditions take a toll on people in one way or another. More often than not, conditions such as arthritis diminish the enjoyment people receive from beloved hobbies or fulfilling jobs. Due to the complex nature of the hand, they can require surgery and weeks to months of therapy, but the end result can greatly impact a person’s life for the better.

Renewed Confidence

With restored function also comes renewed confidence. When people lose the ability to partake in the hobbies they love or experience pain performing basic tasks, it increases feelings of vulnerability and dependence on others. When a hand therapist expertly walks people through the process of restoring function to their hands and upper limbs, it also gives them back the strength to live as they did before the onset of a painful injury or condition.

Gained Knowledge

Getting through the rehabilitation process with a therapist is learning experience for both parties. As the therapist comes to understand the patient, the patient also learns about his or her injury and the healing process. This experience helps patients understand the importance of hand therapy and the effort needed by everyone involved. Learning about the injury, how it affects the body and what has to happen for healing to occur will better prepare people for the process, should another injury arise.

Reduced Stress

Pain in your shoulders, wrists, elbows and hands doesn’t just cause inconvenience, but it can also lead to stress, decreased coping abilities, and trouble sleeping. A hand therapist understands this as much as any other occupational therapist and will carefully work with you to relieve pain and/or assist with appropriate modification techniques. Once the building blocks of hand therapy and healing are underway, the ability to function should significantly improve.

There are nearly 40 million people in the United States affected by some form of arthritis.

Which means one very likely thing—odds are, you know someone with arthritis. You might even have it yourself. The unfortunate fact of the matter is, though, that a majority of Americans are ignorant to the true details of the disease until after they’re diagnosed. And this keeps them from taking the appropriate steps within their power to avoid the onset.

Read on to learn a bit more about the disease itself, in what forms it comes and what you can do to prevent it.

What are the symptoms?

Arthritis can be misdiagnosed and mistaken for other common aches and pains. While a majority of people will experience pain and stiffness regularly as they age, it’s when hands and knees become increasingly swollen and immobile when you should be concerned about arthritis.

How is it caused?

When inflammation develops in the tissue that lines your joints, these areas can become painful and stiff. Essentially, think of any place where two bones meet, like your elbows and knees – these are common areas to encounter arthritic symptoms.

What are the types of arthritis?

While there is a vast variety of types of arthritis – some even estimate it’s in the hundreds – most cases fall into three common types.

Osteoarthritis

More often than not, a person who contracts the disease will be suffering from this type of arthritis. It’s caused by general wear and tear that may include overuse of your joints or simply getting older. It can be injury-based (making it especially common in athletic or active people) or weight-based.

Where you see it: Most commonly found in weight-bearing joints, such as knees, hips and feet

How to detect it: This type of arthritis is accompanied by deep pain; difficulty with simply, everyday activities like getting dressed and crouching; and regular stiffness during the morning hours

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Not all forms of arthritis are caused by usage over time and aging. This type, in fact, is a disease related to your immune system in which, many believe, the body is attacked systematically and particularly in the joints. Some researchers have attributed this to the body merely confusing elements of its own systems for virus or disease and attacking itself.

Where you see it: Can be found in any joints throughout the body – it varies greatly from person to person

How to detect it: This type of arthritis is accompanied by symptoms similar to the ones found in osteoarthritis – just more intense, and, for joints that come in pairs, you’ll likely experience these symptoms in both (i.e., knees, elbows, etc.)

Psoriatic Arthritis

Sometimes inflammation of the skin and joints can cause arthritic conditions – and it’s the third-most-common form of the disease. Though borne out of psoriasis, only about 10-30 percent of people with psoriasis end up with related arthritis. Also, unlike the above types, it might just affect one or two joints, rather than most or all.

Where you see it: Most commonly found through swelling of the fingers and toes

How to detect it: This type of arthritis is accompanied by symptoms such as discoloration of the fingernails and patchy, red skin

What can I do?

Despite the fact that there is no surefire way to keep from getting arthritis, there are things under your control that can help keep your joints healthy and mobile. By maintaining a healthy weight, you can stave off osteoarthritis, which is most often caused by obesity when found in young people. By avoiding injury, you can prevent chronic conditions – be careful during athletic activities and get properly trained. Finally, quitting smoking actually has a great effect on contraction of rheumatoid arthritis – keeping off cigarettes keeps your immune system strong.

---

While there’s no one way to prevent or diagnose arthritis, there are things in your power to affect change—take care of yourself and make smart decisions, and it’ll pay off in your older years.