Occupational Therapy

 

Occupational therapy is the application of skilled treatment in order to help individuals achieve independence in their lives. Occupational therapy gives people the skills necessary to lead satisfying lifestyles.  All of the occupational therapists at Tennessee Orthopedics have specialized in hand and upper extremity therapy.  As hand therapists, we work with our clients to prevent injury or impairment, restore functional activity, and enhance participation in daily life.

 

What is a Hand Therapist?

 

A hand therapist is an occupational or physical therapist who, through advanced study, specializes in rehabilitating patients with conditions affecting the hands and upper extremity.

 

The therapist’s high degree of specialization requires continuing education and, often, advanced certification. This enables the hand therapist to work with patients to hasten their return to a productive lifestyle.

 

A hand therapist works with patients who may have been affected by an accident or trauma leaving them with wounds, scars, burns, injured tendons or nerves, fractures, or even amputation of the finger, hand, wrist or arm.

 

A hand therapist also treats patients who are disabled from the affects of cumulative trauma disorders--such as tennis elbow or carpal tunnel syndrome.  Many patients seeking the care of a hand therapist also suffer from such chronic problems as arthritis or a neurological condition.

 

A hand therapist works with the physician and patient--in any situation--to provide a continuum of care.  This often starts within days of the injury or surgery right through to the patient's return to work and/or a productive lifestyle.

 

A qualified hand therapist can evaluate and identify any problem relative to the upper extremities.  The hand therapist can effectively treat and rehabilitate the patient through postoperative rehabilitation, preventative, no-operative, or conservative treatment, or industry consultation.

Postoperative Rehabilitation

  • Management of open or sutured wounds (prevention of infection and assistance in healing)

  • Control of hypertrophic (raised and/or swollen) or hypersensitive scars

  • Reduction of swelling

Preventative, Non-operative, or conservative treatment

  • Management of acute or chronic pain

  • Desensitization following nerve injury or trauma

  • Sensory re-education after nerve injury

  • Design and implementation of exercise programs to increase motion, dexterity and/or strength

  • Splint fabrication for prevention or corrections of injury

  • Training in the performance of daily life skills through adapted methods and equipment

  • Conditioning prior to returning to work

Tennessee Orthopedics Occupational Therapy is proud to staff the only Certified Hand Therapist in Wilson County!

 

The following videos require Windows Media Player to display properly.

 

E! Entertainment Network News segment on Craig Hutto - former patient of LuAn White (6.3MB)  

 

WSMV Channel 4 News segment on Craig Hutto's Hand Rehabilitation (22.9MB) 

 

 

Our Hand Therapy Staff consists of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monyca Harris-Champion

OTR, CHT, ATP

Occupational Therapist

Certified Hand Therapist

 

  

 

Monyca graduated from Tuskegee University in 1998 with a BS in Occupational Therapy.  Prior to coming to Lebanon, Monyca worked for HealthSouth Rehab Center of Montgomery in the Hand Therapy Department, and also served as Industrial rehabilitation Coordinator, performing Functional Baseline Assessments, Work Conditioning and Work Hardening, and Functional Capacity Evaluations.  Monyca also gained experience with custom specialty rehabilitation equipment while employed by Medical Place, Inc. where she obtained additional certification as an Assistive Technology Practitioner.  A native of Birmingham, AL, Monyca joined UMC in 2002, and then joined Tennessee Orthopedics Therapy Services upon opening in November 2004.  She earned her Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) credential in 2006.

 

  

 

    
 

 

Jill Bourque

COTA

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

 

  

 

Jill is a 1996 graduate of the Occupational Therapy Assistant AAS program at Nashville State Technical Institute.  Prior to joining the Hand Therapy Department at UMC in 1999, Jill gained valuable general occupational therapy experience with the geriatric population.  Jill has worked exclusively with the upper extremity since 1999, and has developed an expertise in hand rehabilitation including wound care, scar management, exercise, and splinting, a rarity among her COTA peers.  She joined Tennessee Orthopedics Therapy Services when we first opened our doors in November 2004.

 

  
 

 

To find out more about occupational therapy and hand therapy:

American Occupational Therapy Association,  www.aota.org

America Society of Hand Therapists, www.asht.org

Hand Therapy Certification Commission, www.htcc.org

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

home  |  about us  |  our doctors  |  our services  |  patient information  |  occupational therapy  |  physical therapy  |  contact us

Copyright  ©  2008   -  Tennessee Orthopedics