Neurologic Hand Therapy

About this Certificate Program

Predicting outcomes, developing appropriate goals, and providing treatment strategies to address hand and upper extremity impairment following neurologic insult are critical for rehabilitation professionals working in a variety of clinical environments. This program is tailored to provide therapists with techniques to evaluate and predict recovery in the acute stage, as well as evidence-supported treatment techniques to address minimal to severe impairment for optimizing hand and upper extremity function. The Neurologic Hand Therapy Certificate prepares therapists to evaluate and treat neurologically involved upper extremity clients who present with a variety of clinical presentations. Therapists who successfully complete this 13-course program will enhance their clinical decision-making and improve the quality of care to optimize clinical outcomes.

Target audience

Therapists (OTs, COTAs, PTs, PTAs) practicing in an acute, rehabilitation, or outpatient environment who see patients with neurologic involvement in the upper extremity. For Certified Hand Therapists (CHTs), the combination of courses for this certificate qualifies for recertification through the Hand Therapy Certification Commission (HTCC) under Category A: formal courses in upper quarter therapy, greater than 3 hours in length.

Goals & objectives

• Apply evidence-based prediction models to estimate recovery and formulate appropriate upper extremity rehabilitation goals.

• Describe the clinical presentation of mild, moderate, and severe neurological involvement in the upper extremity and develop appropriate treatment plans to address each.

• Define neuroplasticity and learned nonuse and how these play an important role in creating appropriate treatment strategies for the patient with a neurologically involved upper extremity.

• Explain the nature of spasticity and its impact on movement, functional recovery, and the development of secondary impairments.

• Describe the basic principles of motor learning and repetitive, task-specific training and how they apply to patients with a wide range of impairments.

• Explain the rationale and components of modified constraint induced therapy.