We’re really excited to continue our Day in the Life series featuring certified hand therapist Emi Ito, OTR/L, CHT. In this article, Emi shares what a day in the life is like working as an outpatient hand therapist as well as helpful information for anyone interested in working in hand therapy. A Bit About Hand […]
An OT student recently asked me if I had any advice on surviving hand therapy fieldwork. They confided in me that they were only two weeks into their Level II Fieldwork placement in an outpatient hand therapy clinic, and that the sheer amount of information and learning all of the diagnoses and surgical protocols had […]
We’ve probably all been there—you receive an order to fabricate a splint for a patient and you groan. If you’re in an inpatient setting, you may not have made a splint since OT school, or maybe it’s been quite some time since your last one. You likely feel uncomfortable with your abilities to confidently create […]
Do we really need to know the types of grasp patterns? In our day–to-day lives, we pick up and handle a variety of items without having to think about what grasp or pinch to use. Imagine if we had to reach for our hairbrush and think, “activate cylindrical grasp!” However, when your patient or client […]
So, you made it through the grueling and exhausting process of applying to occupational therapy (OT) school and you got accepted; you deserve a HUGE congratulations (and maybe even a vacation)! Over the course of applying, I’m sure friends and family asked endless times, “What exactly is occupational therapy?” At times I feel like I […]
As an occupational therapist, you know how wide of a variety of jobs and settings we have to choose from. From inpatient rehab, acute care, pediatrics, home health, neuro outpatient, and of course, outpatient hand therapy. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in hand therapy, you will likely want to consider becoming a Certified […]
I quickly learned in occupational therapy graduate school (in my physiology and neuroscience courses) that I learn best with flow charts – when I can form a plan and visualize what steps come next. The same is true for me now when I’m treating a patient in my hand therapy setting. Regardless of how simple […]
At this point, we’ve all (or at least all of us occupational therapy people) heard of the word ‘dexterity’. When we say ‘dexterity,’ or hand dexterity, we’re talking about the fine motor coordination skills required for functional manipulation of objects in a timely manner. If you have any interest in working in hand therapy, this […]
Affiliate disclosure: Some products purchased from this page may result in My OT Spot receiving a small commission, at no additional cost to you. We thank you for your support! I’ve heard from so many occupational therapists and OT students over time about how hard it is to find a reputable splinting guide. Creating splints […]