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Erlanger Hayes Hand Center is one of Chattanooga’s largest hand care centers with a focus on conditions associated with the hand, elbow and upper extremity. The surgeons and therapists work side-by-side to create a customized treatment plan for you to ensure the best possible outcomes. Our highly skilled certified therapists focus solely on the hand, elbow and upper extremity and use their extensive training and expertise to create individualized therapy plans to help you restore the use of your hand and fingers in a quick timeframe.
At Hayes Hand Center we take great pride in the abilities and professionalism of our licensed Hand Therapists and recognize that many patients benefit greatly from the utilization of Licensed Hand Therapists. Our licensed hand therapists are occupational therapists who have specialized in the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper extremities.
To become licensed, the therapist must have a minimum of 3 years work experience with 4,000 hours or more of direct practice in hand therapy. They must also successfully complete a comprehensive test of advanced clinical skills and theory in upper extremity rehabilitation. Because of changes in the field, ongoing continuing education is vital to keep current on treatment techniques.
Our Hand Center has included the expertise of hand therapists in our overall program since the late 1970s. Not all patients require hand rehabilitation following their treatment or hand surgery; however, for those that do, having the treating physician and therapist working together in the same office allows for optimal patient outcomes.
Conditions that may require intervention by a hand therapist include:
- Fractures
- Tendon injuries
- Nerve injuries
- Arthritis of the thumb
- Soft tissue injury
The trained therapist may:
- Fabricate custom splints
- Perform wound care as indicated
- Develop an individual therapeutic program to expedite the patient’s recovery
- Help control the patient’s pain
- Work with the patient to make the transition back to their everyday lives as smooth as possible
In addition, our therapists are trained in the evaluation of the patient’s level of impairment. They utilize the latest technological instrumentation in the measurement of strength, dexterity, range of motion, and sensory return.