Hand Therapy: Specialized Care at Gilboe
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
June 1–7 was National Hand Therapy Week, a time to recognize a highly specialized area of therapy that helps people regain comfort, movement, strength, and function in the hands, wrists, elbows, and upper extremities.
At David Gilboe & Associates, this week was especially meaningful because hand therapy has been an important part of the care we provide to our community. At DGA, our patients are so much more than names on a schedule. They are people we get to know — their work, their routines, their goals, their challenges, and the daily activities they want to return to with greater ease.
When we really think about it, we realize that our hands are involved in nearly everything we do. We use them to work, cook, drive, write, garden, care for loved ones, use tools, hold a phone, open a jar, button a shirt, and express ourselves. When pain, stiffness, injury, surgery, weakness, or loss of motion affects the hand or arm, even simple tasks can become frustrating.
Hand therapy is specialized because the hand and upper extremities are complex. A hand therapist must understand how small bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves, muscles, and soft tissues work together. The American Society of Hand Therapists (asht.org) describes hand therapy as care for conditions affecting the hand and upper extremity, supported by advanced education, clinical experience, and knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology.
Becoming a Certified Hand Therapist, or CHT, requires advanced experience beyond general therapy training. A CHT must be a licensed occupational therapist or physical therapist with at least three years of clinical practice, 4,000 hours of direct hand and upper extremity therapy experience, and successful completion of a comprehensive certification exam. (HTCC)
This specialized knowledge matters in both traditional and modern daily life. Today, many people place extra strain on their hands through frequent smartphone use, texting, scrolling, gripping, and repetitive thumb movements. Recent research has connected smartphone-related habits, including prolonged use, frequent thumb movement, and holding posture, with pain in the hand, wrist, palm, thumb, and fingers.
At Gilboe, we are fortunate to offer this specialized care locally. We are especially proud to recognize Kris Moonan, Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist, who recently celebrated her 30th year providing Hand Therapy with our Care Team. Kris has 36 years of hand therapy experience and has been a Gilboe team member since 1996.
In 2020, McKenzie Barden, Occupational Therapist Assistant, joined the team and works with Kris in providing compassionate expert care. McKenzie brings six years of experience, along with a caring and encouraging presence that helps patients feel supported throughout their therapy. Together, Kris and McKenzie provide 42 years of hand therapy experience for Gilboe patients.
During Hand Therapy Week, we celebrate the skill, dedication, and personal care behind this important specialty — and the difference it can make in helping people return to the everyday activities that matter most.
If hand, wrist, thumb, elbow, or upper extremity pain is affecting your daily life, remember that our team offers real expertise and experience and is here to help!
