Armworks Hand Therapy FAQ’s

Armworks partners with our patients to help them thrive: giving them the tools for a quick recovery and a goal of complete return to functional activities at work and home. We offer a comprehensive treatment program that addresses elbow, wrist and hand diagnoses by blending manual therapy, modalities and splinting to achieve our excellent outcomes.

The CHT credential is the highest professional certificate that can be given to a therapist who specializes in upper extremity treatment and rehabilitation. Occupational therapists who wish to gain the CHT credential are required to have a minimum of three years of clinical experience and 4,000 hours of direct practice in hand therapy. Once these requirements are met, they must complete a comprehensive exam which tests their superior clinical skills and theory in upper extremity rehabilitation. Each certified hand therapist must recertify every five years to show they have maintained and expanded their advanced knowledge and skillset.

Your first appointment will consist of a physical evaluation, a review of your medical history, and a discussion of your treatment goals. If your symptoms allow, your hand therapist will assess your swelling, flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination. They will then evaluate your performance during various body mechanic exercises and functional activities.

Your hand therapist will create a treatment plan and closely manage it during your following therapy visits. Initially, treatment follows a structured plan: reduce pain and swelling, restore or improve flexibility, then increase strength and endurance. Once these goals are accomplished, additional exercises and activities will be added that mimic everyday tasks or chores. Your progress will be examined throughout your treatment dates to ensure improvements are being made. Once the treatment goals are met and the referring physician is confident in your results, the patient will be given proper education for continued success and discharged from hand therapy.

If you need of hand therapy, simply call one of our Armworks locations or request an appointment online to schedule an evaluation. If applicable, your hand therapist and referring medical provider will agree on a frequency and duration for treatment. Our front desk will schedule you to meet those requirements. We will do everything we can to accommodate your requests for appointment days and times. Please inform us of any scheduling restrictions and we will do our best to work around them.

There will be continued contact between your hand therapist and health care provider. Your hand therapist will send frequent progress notes to your medical provider and update them on your physical status/improvements. Discussions will take place as to the direction of your therapy to ensure you are receiving the best treatment possible to meet your needs.

Appointments typically last 45 minutes. Your therapist will do everything in their power to get you out on time, but please expect to be here a couple minutes past the scheduled end time.

Please bring photo identification, your insurance card or claim number, a copy of the written referral from your doctor, and a list of any medications you are currently taking. Please arrive 15 minutes early to your first appointment in order to fill out the necessary paperwork, if you have not already done so at home by printing them off our website. Also, if you are currently wearing a brace or splint, please wear or bring it to your first appointment. Other than those small details, bring a good attitude and a willingness to get better!

After the initial evaluation, your hand therapist will contact the referring physician to discuss a treatment plan (if applicable). The therapist will suggest a treatment duration and frequency, while considering insurance plan coverage, which your referring medical provider will either sign off on or adjust. Once an agreement has been made between the hand therapist and doctor, Armworks will contact the patient to schedule the recommended appointments. Initially, patients attend therapy about two times every week. As the patient advances through treatment and shows steady improvements, office visits will likely be fewer and farther between, typically once every week or other week. During this time, patients will continue self-treatment using a prescribed individual at home exercise program. Once the treatment goals have been met, the therapist and doctor will agree to discharge the patient from therapy.

Most insurance agencies pay for a portion, if not all, of occupational therapy services redeemed. If you are unsure of your benefits, Armworks will gladly call and confirm this detail for you.

In most cases, no. If you will be using your private health insurance plan or paying directly, you are not required to see your doctor or medical provider before you begin occupational therapy. Patients being seen for work injuries, car accidents, or those with Medicare or Medicaid insurance plans do require a referral before starting therapy. If this applies to you but you are not sure where to go, we are happy to recommend a trusted medical provider within our community.