Certified Hand Therapist Brings Higher Standard of Care to North Oaks Rehabilitation Services

Occupational Therapist Paul Legardeur, CHT recently earned certification in hand therapy. He has more than 7 years of experience treating hand and upper extremity injuries. He is an expert in conservative and post-operative treatment of shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand injuries. Paul performs custom splinting and utilizes a combination of manual therapy and passive range of motion exercises to maximize recovery and increase patient comfort during sessions.

A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is an Occupational Therapist or Physical Therapist who has a minimum of five years of clinical experience, including 4,000 hours or more in hand therapy. In addition, he/she is required to pass a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in rehabilitation. Because of changes in the profession, every CHT must demonstrate continued professional development and competency by recertifying every five years.

A hand therapist can evaluate and treat any problem relative to the upper extremities that affects hand function. Hand therapists work with their clients to prevent injury and restore function, often using physical methods such as exercise, splinting and wound care.