A Certified Hand Therapist, or CHT, is an occupational or physical therapist who has developed advanced clinical experience in rehabilitation of the hand and upper extremity and has passed a specialty certification examination. The credential is administered by the Hand Therapy Certification Commission.
Despite the name, hand therapy may address the fingers, thumb, wrist, forearm, elbow, and shoulder. The goal is not merely to improve a measurement—it is to help you use the arm and hand more comfortably and effectively in real life.
You do not need an unusual injury to benefit from specialized care. Persistent pain, stiffness, weakness, numbness, swelling, or difficulty using the hand may all justify an evaluation.
Conditions commonly seen in hand therapy
- Fractures, sprains, dislocations, and tendon or ligament injuries.
- Recovery after hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder surgery.
- Thumb CMC arthritis and other painful joint conditions.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve-related symptoms.
- Tendon irritation, including trigger finger, tennis elbow, and related conditions.
- Scars, swelling, wounds, stiffness, weakness, or loss of coordination.
- Difficulty returning to work, caregiving, household tasks, music, gardening, exercise, or other valued activities.
What might treatment include?
A hand therapy evaluation looks at the injured or painful area and how it affects function. Treatment may include individualized exercise, activity modification, joint-protection strategies, scar and swelling management, sensory retraining, manual techniques, and gradual return to meaningful tasks.
A CHT may also fabricate or recommend an orthosis. The purpose might be to protect healing tissue, improve positioning, reduce stress on an irritated joint, maintain motion, or make an activity more comfortable. The correct design and wearing schedule depend on the diagnosis, healing stage, and goals.
Why the occupational therapy perspective matters
Your hand does not function in isolation. It interacts with the rest of your body, your habits, your tools, and the demands of your day. An OT-trained hand therapist considers not only tissue healing but also how you grip a pan, lift a child, manage buttons, play an instrument, use a computer, or complete your work.
Sometimes the most useful change is a specific exercise. Sometimes it is a different tool, a better movement pattern, a custom support, or a temporary change in how a task is performed. Good hand therapy connects the clinical problem to the life you are trying to resume.
When should you seek medical evaluation first?
Urgent medical assessment is appropriate after a major injury, obvious deformity, deep wound, loss of circulation, rapidly increasing swelling, signs of infection, or sudden loss of movement or sensation. Hand therapy often works alongside a primary care clinician, orthopedist, rheumatologist, or hand surgeon when diagnosis or medical management is needed.