Course Description:

This one-day, interactive course will focus on the evaluation and treatment of impairments of the hand, wrist, and elbow in the physical therapy and occupational therapy setting. The purpose of this course will be to advance the understanding of current research in the evaluation and treatment of common conditions encountered in the clinic for physical therapy and occupational therapy. The course will focus on the most common causes of hand, wrist, and elbow pain, dysfunction, and impaired functional use including but not limited to: carpal tunnel, osteoarthritis, trigger finger, Dupuytren's, Dequervains, fractures, tendon ruptures, medial elbow pain, and lateral elbow pain. The class will also connect cervical pathology and a source of distal hand and wrist pain. A combination of interactive lectures, small group case studies, and lab skills will ultimately lead to well-informed care and enhanced clinical patient outcomes. Lectures will include a review of relevant anatomy, physiology, differential diagnosis, clinical practice patterns, discussion of clinical decision-making, and real-world case examples. The lab will center around small group case studies with a demonstration of appropriate clinical exams, screening techniques, treatment techniques, exercise progression, hands-on cuing and motor learning techniques, and patient education strategies as substantiated in current literature with instructor feedback.