Health & Wellness Newsletter by Physical Therapy Institute of Illinois
Health&Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
A hand therapist is an occupational or physical therapist who, through advanced study and experience, specializes in treating individuals with conditions affecting the hands and upper extremity. Why See A Hand Therapist?
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CHECK OUT OUR PHYSICIAN SPOTLIGHT SECTION INSIDE!
Dr. Josephine Mo, MD
Al Flores, PT, CFCE Director of Rehab
Health & Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body
Why See A Hand Therapist?
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Hand Therapists provide the following: • Accurate assessments, immediate care and effective treatment to reduce treatment time. • A continuum of care eliminating the need for multiple medical providers. • Faster recovery results in decreased medical costs. • Functional outcomes ensuring a faster return to work and productive lifestyle. • The most comprehensive care for their patients.
A qualified hand therapist can evaluate and treat any problem related to the upper extremity. The hand therapist can effectively treat and rehabilitate the patient through post-operative rehabilitation, preventative, non-operative or conservative treatment or industry consultation. The therapist works closely with the physician and patient to provide a continuum of care. This often starts within days of the injury or surgery right through the patient’s return to work and /or a productive lifestyle. Hand therapy is the art and science of evaluating and treating injuries and conditions of the upper extremity (shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, wrist and hand). Hand therapy uses a number of therapeutic interventions to help return a person to their highest level of function. Hand therapists can help bridge the gap from the medical management of a patient’s injury or condition to a successful recovery, allowing their patient to function normally in their daily lives. A hand specialist, like we have at PTII, may also have advanced certification as a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT). CHT vs. OT/PT Occupational therapists have graduated from an accredited OT program, passed a national registration exam and are licensed to practice as OTs in the state in which they work (unless no licensure exists in that state). Physical therapists have graduated from a PT accredited program, passed a national registration exam and are licensed to practice in the state in which they both work. Both occupational therapists and physical therapists can practice in any specialty area of their professions, such as general rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation, head injury, orthopedics, pediatrics, geriatrics, or hand therapy.
What can Hand Therapists Treat (but not limited to) • Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Nerve Injury/Laceration
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Lateral Epicondylitis (tennis elbow) • Medial Epicondylitis (golfers elbow)
• DeQuervains Tenosynovitis
• Digital Amputations
• Trigger Finger
• Hand/Arm Fractures
• Crush Injuries
• Dupuytrens Disease
• Soft Tissue Injuries
• Tendon Injury/Laceration
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WHAT IS TENNIS ELBOW? Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylosis, lateral tendinosis, or lateral epicondylitis, is a condition that involves tendons located around the outside of the elbow. These tendons, which
What is treatment for tennis elbow? Conservative (nonsurgical) treatment through a physician can include anti-inflammatory medications and steroid injections into the painful area. A physician can also provide a referral to a qualified hand therapist. Surgery is often only considered if the pain is severe, and/or symptoms have been present for six months or longer. What can a hand therapist do for me? A hand therapist can provide conservative management for treatment of tennis elbow, with the goal to return the patient back to normal work, home and sports activities. A therapist can help identify what activities might aggravate symptoms, and discuss activity modifications. Orthotics for the wrist may be recommended to rest the wrist extensors. Postural exercises are emphasized along with stretching and strengthening of shoulder, elbow wrist and hand. Modalities may be utilized such as heat, cold laser, iontophoresis, ultrasound and massage. A therapist also reviews activity modification for prevention of future injuries once lateral epicondylitis has resolved.
anchor muscle to the bone, work to extend the wrist or fingers. Overtime these tendons degenerate, weakening the attachment site and placing a strain on the muscles. What are symptoms of tennis elbow? Patients complain of pain around the elbow, usually on the bony part just above the outside of the elbow called lateral epicondyle. The area may be tender to touch. Patients may report weakness and inability to perform their normal activities of daily living, such as lifting a cup of coffee. What causes tennis elbow? Many patients diagnosed with tennis elbow have never played tennis at all. Any activity, such as gripping or repeated grasping, can strain the tendon attachment to the lateral epicondyle.The most common age group is between 30-60 years old although it can occur in younger and older patients.
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MEET OUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY TEAM
Suzanne Oban, OTR/L, CHT
Mary Herbin-Horan, OTR/L, M.S. Cl Psych Park Ridge Office
Clinical Director – Fox River Grove Clinic Graston Technique Certified
Mary received her Bachelor of Science degree in OccupationalTherapy from the University of Kansas in 1978. She completed her Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology in 1994. She
received her training in hand therapy under the supervision of Dr. Robert Schenck, hand surgeon at Rush Medical Center. Her subspecialty areas include repetitive motion injuries (including work comp and musician injuries), trauma, tendon,fractures,andnerve injuries.She ishighlyskilled at static and dynamic splinting. Mary received her board certification in the area of orthopedics and has worked with patients of all ages and cultural backgrounds. In addition, she has been teaching Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation at Governors State University for 10 years. Mary is a musician, artist, and quilter. She is married and has also been involved in helping students fromNLCP charter high school, one of whom is now studying occupational therapy.
Sue Oban received her Bachelor’s of Science in 1985 and her Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) Certification in 1992. Sue specializes in hand and upper extremity dysfunction and works with a variety of injuries.
In her free time, Sue enjoy’s water skiing, cycling, circuit training, spending time with her 2 adult sons and travelling with her husband.
FOX RIVER GROVE LOCATION: 1009 IL Route 22 Suite 1 Fox River Grove, IL 60021-1998
PARK RIDGE LOCATION: 1550 North Northwest Highway Suite 120 Park Ridge, IL 60068
T 847-462-8707 F 847-462-9208
T 847-298-3079 F 847-298-4019
EXERCISE ESSENTIALS
Try these exercises to get you moving... WRIST EXTENSION Straighten your arm and bend your wrist back as if signaling someone to “stop.” Use your opposite hand to apply gentle pressure across the palm and pull it toward you until you feel a stretch on the inside of your forearm. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds. Repeat 5 times, then perform this stretch on the other arm.
Exercisescopyrightof
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WRIST FLEXION Straighten your arm with your palm facing down and bend your wrist so that your fingers point down. Gently pull your hand toward your body until you feel a stretch on the outside of your forearm. Hold the stretch for 15 seconds. Repeat 5 times, then perform this stretch on the other arm.
Helps To Relieve Wrist Pain
Helps To Relieve Wrist Pain
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Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you are unsure of doing.
PATIENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT PHYSICIAN SPOTLIGHT Dr. Josephine Mo, MD graduated from both the undergraduate and medical schools of Northwestern University as a member of the 7-year Honors Program in Medical Education. She also completed her orthopaedic residency training at Northwestern University followed by a fellowship in hand and upper extremity surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
HEALTHY RECIPE
Dr. Mo and our hand therapists facilitate the development of an individualized treatment program tailored to each of our patient’s unique problems. COMMON CONDITIONS TREATED: • Carpal and Cubital Tunnel Syndrome • Trigger Finger and Thumb • Arthritic Conditions Affecting the Fingers, Hand and Wrist • Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow • Dupuytren’s Contractures • Fractures, Dislocations, Lacerations and Other Injuries to the Fingers, Hand and Wrist
Dr. Mo is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and has also successfully completed a Sub-specialty Certificate in Surgery of the Hand. She is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. She has been recognized by Advocate Lutheran General Hospital for her compassion and excellence in patient care. The Hand and Upper Extremity Team at OSS was formed to provide comprehensive care for our patients’ needs. We provide nonsurgical treatment options, same day custom splint formation, and postoperative rehabilitation on site. Daily team meetings between
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