The Hand to Shoulder Podcast
A podcast for occupational and physical therapists specializing in upper extremity care. It aims to cover topics that spark discussion and elevate the profession, helping therapists enhance their clinical and professional development. The podcast is based out of Appleton, Wisconsin, at the Hand to Shoulder Center of Wisconsin.
Episodes
053: Planning out the ASHT Annual Meeting in Milwaukee with Rachel Pigott, MPH, OTR/L, CHT
Today we are spending time with Rachel Pigott, the chair ofthe planning committee for the ASHT annual meeting, as she discusses the ins and the outs of the conference! She explains the process of how to become a committee member, submitting to be a speaker, and what to expect when attending the annual meeting. Listening to this episode will get you even more excited about the big event!! About our
051: Return to Work with Mitchell Voss, PP-OTD, MBA, OTR/L
Join us as we explore work rehabilitation with Mitchell Vossfrom Green Bay, WI. Mitch discusses the perfect candidate for work rehab post ortho injury and walks us through a case study what a patient experiences in a work rehab setting. Pay attention to clinic pearls to give the patient the best simulation to return to work safely and more efficiently post acute care. Hope you enjoy the show!Mitch
050: Thoracic Spine and Shoulder Relationships: Posture, Mobility, and Physical Performance with Joan Vicente, PT, DPT, PhD
Our 50th podcast episode!!Sit up tall, stand up straight? Don’t you feel like a squeaky wheel with your shoulder and thoracic outlet patients? Join Ann, Cassie and Joan Vicente as we comb through cutting-edge research regarding the relationship between the thoracic spine and shoulder. Joan discusses physical performance between symptomatic and asymptomatic adults including posture and mobility in
049: Client-Centered Approach with Returning to Sport with Ryerson Stinson, MOT, OTR/L, CHT
As spring approaches, our patients are excited to return to some of their long-awaited outdoor activities! Today we are joined by Ryerson Stinson, a hand therapist and golf expert from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland as he discusses the importance of individualizing programs for patients as they return to their sport.Here's a little background about our guest!: Ryerson is an Occupational
048: Medial Elbow Pain in the Athlete with Mike Lennie, OTR/L, ATC, CHT
Mike Lennie, OTR/L, ATC, CHT has an undergraduate degreeand certification in Athletic Training from Southern Illinois University. Rehabilitating overhead athletes with the baseball and softball programs drove his interest to pursue a career in rehab for the UE. In 2011, he graduated from Midwestern University with his OT degree and has been working as an orthopedic OT since that time. He became a
047: Hand Therapy in Acute Care with Adrienne Tesarek, OTR/L, CHT
Hand therapy isn’t limited to the outpatient setting—many patients begin their recovery in the hospital. Join us as we interview Adrienne Tesarek, OTR/L, CHT from San Diego, CA, who began her career working in the acute care environment then became a CHT in an outpatient setting. Adrienneshares her insights on working with patients during the early stages of recovery and highlights the key elemen
046: Addressing the Kinetic Chain in Your Hand Therapy Patient with Mike Mueller, OTR, CHT
“The long bone is connected to the short bone”, remembersinging that song? Well, it’s true in our everyday life! Everything is connected and should be addressed when seeing as hand therapy patient. Mike Mueller, OTR, CHT joins us from Rothman Orthopaedics from Philadelphia,Pennsylvania to discuss the kinetic chain with an upper extremity hand patient and how looking at the whole picture will chang
045: Hand Therapy Skills Across Borders: from the US to Northern Ireland with Karen Murphy, MS, OTR, CHT, AHT
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to practice in a different country? Or perhaps what hand therapy practice looks like in Northern Ireland? Today we dive into the day and life of Karen Murphy, MS, OTR, CHT, AHT as the owner and director of Health Pub Professions. Karen's explores hand therapy in Northern Ireland and the differences from the US. She shares her passion for hand therap
044: Hand Therapy Practice Analysis with Mary Dimick, OTR, CHT
Many of you are studying for the CHT exam or have already put many hours into passing the specialty hand therapy exam. Don't you wonder how this exam came about or even how hand therapy became a subspecialty? Well, today we talk with Wisconsin native Mary Dimick, who previously served as the president of the Hand Therapy Certification Commission, also known as the HTCC. She gives us a backgrou
043: Treating Sports-Related Wrist Injuries with Jean-François Ouellet, BSc (OT), CHT
For those of you who work in hand therapy clinics, it can be intimidating to see high- level athletes. This population has specific demands above and beyond the regular day-to-day activities of daily living. Join us as we discuss what typeof issues affecting these patients with Jean-François Ouellet, BSc (OT), CHT! He works with a team of physicians and therapists who specialize in treatment of
042: Casting Motion to Mobilize Stiffness (CMMS) with Kantessa Stewart, OTR/L, CHT
Please join Hand to Shoulder podcast members Ann and Cassie as they interview Kantessa Stewart out of Southwestern Ohio Orthopedics discussing a hand therapy technique called CMMS for addressing stiff joints. Kantessa talks through launching the program and how patients with stiff joints benefit from casting to relieve stiffness. Learn clinical pearls regarding materials and length of time in
betw
041: Glenohumeral Stabilization for Patients with Hypermobility Syndromes with Dr. Tamara Scerpella
Patients with hypermobility syndromes who present with shoulder instability have traditionally been told to go to therapy. But what if therapy is not enough? Join Dr. Tamara Scerpella as she explains how she evaluates and treats this challenging issue. She goes into details regarding surgical procedure, sling use, protocol and rehabilitation post-surgically for capsular shift or tightening. Liste
040: Rehab Following Nerve Transfer with Jen Dodson, OTD, OTR/L, CHT
Supercharged and ready for rehab! Are you working with a brachial plexus patient that had a nerve transfer? Well, listen up, this is the podcast for you!
Jen Dodson joins the Hand to Shoulder podcast team to discuss rehabilitation theories and principles as well as a timeline of what to expect.
Jen is a part of a qualitative research study involving rehabilitation processes with outcomes. We hop
039: Nerve Transfers with Dr. Nick Munaretto
Nerve transfer surgery involves reconnecting a functioning nerve fascicle to a damaged or lacerated nerve to restore connection to muscles with absent innervation. This is an extensive surgery that takes a lot of time and education with our patients before and after
surgery. Dr. Munaretto explores common nerve transfers he completes at the Hand to Shoulder Center while discussing appropriate candi
038: Understanding Midcarpal Instability with Ann Porretto-Loehrke, PT, DPT, CHT, COMT, CMTPT
Wrist instability can be a difficult condition to treat.
Today’s episode covers the intricate mechanics of midcarpal instability and the two types of clinical presentations: midcarpal VISI (volar intercalated
segmental instability) and the less common midcarpal DISI (dorsal intercalated segmental instability). Clinical testing for each of these conditions will be covered as well as evidence-suppo
037: Somatosensory Rehab with Tara Packham, OTReg (Ont), PhD
Somatosensory rehabilitation is a method of assessment and treatment for neuropathic pain developed in Switzerland two decades ago by Claude Spicher, a Swiss hand therapist. It draws on contemporary understandings
of functional neuroanatomy to address both sensory loss and sensory gain (allodynia). While it can be used for the entire body, it is especially useful for conditions commonly seen in th
036: Building A Hand Therapy Fellowship with Jyo Supnekar, OTR/L, OTD, CHT, CLT, C/NDT, COMT
Jyo Supnekar, OTR/L, OTD, CHT, CLT, C/NDT, COMT and her colleagues at Johns Hopkins Health
System had the vision of building a hand therapy fellowship in 2015 and after much research and numerous hours dedicated towards the application process, creating
a curriculum, creating a core group of mentors and educators, marketing and receiving candidacy status, the Fellowship was launched in 2017. Jyo s
035: Neuromodulation Coaching with Lisa Kozden, PhD, OTR, CHT, COMT
Neuromodulation coaching is a unique treatment approach which helps to assess and categorize each patient into specific archetypes with associated neurophysiological profiles. By understanding each
patient’s archetype, a clinician can create and implement more effective plans of care which address the physical, mental, and emotional health of the patient. Join us to learn more about Neuromodulatio
034: Hand Therapy in Dubai with Blair Agero
We become accustomed to our role as a hand therapist in the clinic where we practice, often not giving a second thought to how we perform our daily duties. But what does the role of a hand therapist look like in another part of the world? Blair Agero, occupational therapist, joins us from Dubai, UAE to share what his day-to-day roles entail. Please join us for an interesting look at hand therapy p
033: Blood Flow Restriction and How it Can Fit into Your Hand Therapy Practice with Jim Wagner, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, COMT, CPAM, CSCS
We’ve seen lots of hype about Blood Flow Restriction, or BFR
in social media, but how does it work? Join us as Jim Wagner, seasoned hand
therapist and powerlifter as he brings to light the physiologic benefits of BFR
and how this can be incorporated into your hand therapy practice!
Jim Wagner has been practicing for 30 years with clinical
experience of the UE in orthopedics. He received his post p
032: Wound Care
Open wound? Don’t panic, Nora is here to help! Join us with
Nora Barrett discussing how to evaluate, cleanse, dress and document all
different types of wounds. Nora organizes all the products that she recommends
for various types of wounds seen in a hand clinic. You will not be disappointed
in the takeaways and clinic pearls after listening.
Nora Barrett OTR/L, CHT, WCC
graduated from the Progra
031: Introduction to Cervical Spine for Hand Therapists with Dr. Derek Clewley PT, DPT, PhD
“The arm bone is connected to the wrist bone”….. come on now, we all know this song! Well, it’s a fact, everything is connected. Derek Clewley, DPT, PhD., not only details us through examination of an injury, he clues us in on treatment of the kinetic chain. Join us as we discuss looking proximal to the cervical spine when we are treating conservative lower arm issues such as ulnar wrist pain or
030: Kinesiotape with Teri Casagranda PT, CHT
Stuck on you! Have you ever used Kinesiotape before? Where
did you put it and for what purpose? Did you know there’s different degrees of
tension when applying the tape? Well, all these are questions you may not have
thought of when using Kinesiotape. Listen up, we have all these pondering
thoughts answered in this podcast. Teresa Casagrande, PT, CHT
from Sturgeon Bay, WI energetically greets us t
029: Motor Neuron Deficits with Cindy Ivy OTD, M.Ed., CHT
Motor Neuron Deficits: Lesions leading to lost function! Join Hand to Shoulder with Cassie and Shelly as we dissemble motor neurons and variations of symptoms, which in turn, lead to ALS. This very energetic podcast with Cynthia Ivy out of Phoenix, AZ, will open your mind to neurological deficits and the role of a hand therapist with someone who presents with hand or upper limb weakness. We hope y
028: Everything Shoulder with Dr. Shawn Hennigan M.D.
Is your wing broken? How much do you know about shoulder surgeries involving the GHJ and surrounding soft tissue? Well, here is an episode for you. Join Cassie Schuh and Shelly Somers as they dissect shoulder surgeries with Dr. Shawn Hennigan, where together, they discuss procedures, immobilization time and rehab. Learn cutting edge surgery techniques that are completed for capsular, noncapsular,
027: Youtube OT/PT Series - Wrist Pain Exercises with Theresa Parry OTR, CHT, COMT
In this episode Shelly and Steve are joined by Theresa Parry OTR, CHT, COMT to discuss common wrist pain exercises found on YouTube. The five most common exercises are discussed. Are these exercises appropriate? When should they be given out? What considerations need to be made before prescribing these exercises? What modifications could be made? It is all here in this episode!
026: Two Thumbs Up! Dynamic Stability of the Thumb with Virginia O'Brien, OTD, OTR/L, CHT
My pollex is not cooperating! Have you noticed when treating CMC arthritis or LRTI/arthroplasty patient’s that they just can’t control both MP and IPJs when it comes to motion or strengthening? Well, their stability and neuromotor control has gone haywire with poor pinching habits over the years. Tune in with Virginia O’Brien from Madison, WI to listen how to tease out these control patterns via e
025: Mirror Mirror on the Wall (Mirror Box Therapy) with Miranda Materi OTD, OTR/L, CHT
Take a look in the mirror! Have you ever used mirror box therapy to help restore normal movement patterns? Join us where we reunite with Miranda Materi OTD, OTR/L, CHT from Phoenix, AZ discuss how Mirror Box Therapy can help with many different diagnoses from amputations to CRPS and even just stiffness. Miranda dives into how Mirror Box Therapy can be built at home in a “do it yourself” fashion or
024: YouTube OT/PT Series: Elbow Tendinopathy with Andrew Walquist PT, DPT, FAFS, OCS
The internet can be a great place to go when looking for exercises or information on treating patients. We have everything at our fingertips - we are seeing more patients come to into the clinic with a self-prescribed home program they got from Youtube. Youtube can be an excellent resource for exercises and information. However, is it appropriate for everyone? Are the exercises addressing th
023: Everything Elbow with Dr. Boyd Lumsden
From your mouth to your feet, the hinge that feeds you and puts your socks on. What could go wrong and how to “fix it”. Join Hand to Shoulder and Dr. Boyd Lumsden, M.D with Hand to Shoulder Center of Wisconsin to discuss several diagnoses of the elbow joint, a surgeon’s perspective and recommendations for therapy.
Dr. Boyd C. Lumsden, M.D. is one of our very own skilled surgeons who joined Hand t
022: Exercise Progression with Mark Gallant DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT
Do you struggle prescribing exercises? Have that one patient who is not responding to the same exercise that helps every other patient? Have you ever thought about testing a one rep max as a part of some's rehab? In this episode Ryan and Steve are joined by Mark Gallant DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT to discuss progressions, dosage, and loading for exercises. Mark gives case examples with shoulder and elbow ex
021: Youtube OT/PT: Shoulder Pain Exercises with Andrew Walquist PT, DPT, FAFS, OCS and Chad Burnham DPT, FAFS, CSCS
Have you ever gone to the internet to look for exercises to prescribe for your patients? Have you treated somebody who has come into the clinic and already has a self prescribed home program they got from Youtube? Youtube can be an excellent resource for exercises and information. However, is it appropriate for everyone? Are the exercises addressing the impairments? Steve sits down with previous g
020: Care of the Conservative Shoulder with Chad Burnham DPT, FAFS, CSCS
Where do you start when someone comes in with shoulder pain? Is it really the shoulder causing the pain? In this episode Ryan Holewinski, PT, DPT joins the show to co-host as we sit down and chat with Chad Burnham, DPT, FAFS, CSCS to discuss treating conservative shoulder pain.
019: Prosthetic Training with Arm Dynamics
One LIMB at a time…..have you ever worked with a patient who is in need of a prosthetic? Today, Shelly Somers, PT, DPT, CHT, ATC, CMTPT, joins the podcast in a great conversation with Jennifer Peterson, MA, PT and Patrick Prigge, CP, FAAOP(D) from Arm Dynamics in Maple Grove, MN. We discuss the process of obtaining a prosthetic for an amputee and the proper steps needed to get him or her measured,
018: Thoracic Outlet Syndrome with Ann Porretto-Loehrke, PT, DPT, CHT, COMT, CMTPT
Have you ever treated someone with numbness and tingling and you couldn't quite figure it out or help them the way you wanted? Have you ever thought about starting your exam proximally? Oftentimes with nerve compression conditions, we see proximal involvement in addition to the distal presentation, which unlocks a whole new realm of treatment possibilities for positive outcomes. Join us on today's
017: Dry Needling with Jan Dommerholt, PT, DPT, MPS
Got a TWITCH...... Join us as we explore how a taut band trigger point forms, chemical breakdown and what occurs to the band as a muscle is dry needled. Jan Dommerholt, President of Myopain Seminars, interviews with us discussing logistics, principles and current concepts of dry needling. He answers important questions on this hot topic and when this treatment technique is a warranted adjunct and
016: I'm Wide Awake - Flexor Tendons with Dr. Donald Lalonde
Hand to Shoulder Center sits down with Dr. Donald LaLonde from St. Petersburg, Nova Scotia, Canada where he describes the evolution of wide awake, local anesthesia, no tourniquet procedures, specific to flexor tendon repairs. Dr. LaLonde is a current practicing plastic surgeon who continues to develop new research and is an icon speaker internationally. He provides excellent clinical pearls for te
015: Thumb Arthritis: You down with CMC? with Mirka Normand MA, OTR, CHT, COMT
The rule of thumb…many have experienced the uncomfortable sensation of pain at the base of their thumb at some point in life, especially therapists! Let’s learn from Mirka Normand, out of Connecticut, to unpack the multitude of factors that lead to CMC arthritis. Learn how to address it from our evaluation strategies to treatment and splinting options.
Mirka Normand graduated with a Bachelor of Sc
014: Tennis Elbow...What Works? with Jim Wagner, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CPAM, CSCS
Lateral elbow pain…..ughhh… the low back pain of the upper extremity. Jim Wagner, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CPAM, CSCS from upstate New York, sits down with the Hand to Shoulder Center to discuss his approach to the lateral elbow. Jim provides a top down approach from the neck to the hips, how movement patterns from other areas of the body can cause lateral elbow pain. Clinical pearls for evaluation, treat
013: Come Radius Along With Me. Surgical techniques and procedures involving the wrist with Jon J. Cherney, M.D.
Come take a tour with us, dissecting idiosyncrasies and procedures of the wrist! Dr. Jon Cherney, board certified hand surgeon, and Hand to Shoulder Center’s very own, anatomize wrist surgeries and recovery following. Dr. Cherney is board certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery with a Subspecialty Certification in Surgery of the Hand. He specializes in arthroscopy of the wrist, elbow
012: The Radial Column of the Wrist with Ann Porretto-Loehrke, PT, DPT, CHT, COMT, CMTPT
Have you wondered why some of your patients with thumb pain, post-distal radius fracture, or wrist tendinopathy are not improving? You might be missing a huge link of the radial column. In this episode Ann Porretto-Loehrke, PT, DPT, CHT, COMT, CMTPT educates us on the anatomy and biomechanics of the radial column of the wrist.
Ann Porretto-Loehrke graduated with a BS in PT from Marquette Universi
011: CRPS with Miranda Materi OTD, OTR/L, CHT
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) can be a tricky beast. Luckily we have Miranda Materi on the podcast today to help us better understand this intimidating condition in order to give our patients the best possible outcome. Miranda received her professional clinical doctorate in occupational therapy from Creighton University in 2006. After practicing hand therapy for five years, she became a ce
010: Pitcher This...Treating Baseball Pitchers in a Hand Clinic with Dr. Garrett Bullock PT, DPT
The tenth episode of the Hand to Shoulder Podcast is all about baseball. More specifically, we talk about assessing and treating pitchers. And who's a better expert on this topic than Dr. Garrett Bullock? Not only is he a Doctor of Physical Therapy, he is also a former collegiate and professional baseball player. Dr. Bullock provides insight on ways to assess the lower extremity as a critical part
009: Pain Pain Go Away...with Dr. Chad Cook, PT, PhD, MBA, FAPTA
Do you have patients you just cannot seem to get out of pain or explain the reasoning behind their pain? Dr. Chad Cook returns to take a deeper dive into the complex world of pain. In addition to his clinical research, advocating for the therapy profession, and treating patients, Dr. Cook holds a Certificate in Chronic Pain Management from McGill University. In this episode, we discuss pain types
008: Extensor World with Josh MacDonald MS, OTR-L, CHT
The Extensor Tendons. Located on the back of the hand, sometimes referred to as the extensor hood, the extensor mechanism, etc. It can get complicated with the different structures. Listen as Josh MacDonald MS, OTR-L, CHT from Hand Therapy Partners guides you through all you need to know.
Josh is a certified hand therapist (CHT) with extensive experience working directly with hand surgeons to help
007: The Foundation and Evolution of Hand Therapy with Terri Skirven OTR/L, CHT
Have you ever wondered where and when hand therapy was born? Well Terri Skirven, OTR/L, CHT walks us through the seeds of when, where and how hand therapy blossomed. She outlines the foundation of the ASHT Board and Conference, Philadelphia Hand Conference and how the iconic CHT (Certified Hand Therapy Exam) was instituted, as well as how to become a speaker for continuing education conferences. T
006: Mapping Out Flexor Tendon Repairs with Dr. Rebecca Neiduski, PhD, OTR/L, CHT
The flexor tendon system of the hand is what we use to interact with our environment. Dr. Rebecca Neiduski, PhD,OTR/L, CHT, from Elon University, dissects tendon zones, strand repairs and progression of therapy after a flexor tendon repair. Rebecca received a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology and Leisure Studies from Purdue University; a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Washington Univ
005: The Social Determinants of Health with Dr. Zachary D. Rethorn PT, DPT
Have you ever considered economics, education, neighborhood, and lifestyle choices of each of your patient's when treating them and how this may impact their treatment? Today we are joined by Dr. Zachary D. Rethorn to educate us on this topic. Dr. Zachary D. Rethorn is a board-certified orthopedic physical therapist and certified health coach with clinical and research expertise in musculoskeletal
004: TFCC...the Meniscus of the Wrist? with Theresa Parry, OTR, CHT, COMT
The Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) can be a complicated and intimidating structure. Theresa Parry OTR, CHT, COMT joins us to break it down with an insightful discussion of the structures, the role, rehabilitation, and orthotic selection when treating someone with TFCC involvement. If you are interested in learning from Theresa she teaches continuing education courses for the Intern
002: Manual Therapy, Pain, and Research with Dr. Chad Cook, PT, PhD, MBA, FAPTA
Dr. Chad Cook is a clinical researcher out of Duke University, a physical therapist, and a profession advocate with a history of clinical care excellence and service. His passions include refining and improving the patient examination process and validating tools used in day-to-day physical therapist practice. As you will hear, he has over 300 publications and is a wealth of knowledge in
001: Why Treating Functionally is Handy - with Andrew Walquist PT, DPT, OCS, FAFS
Welcome to the first ever episode of the Hand to Shoulder Podcast! We are excited to kick things off with an interview that will leave you motivated to change your clinical approach with your very next patient and likely even try new things with patients who come to mind as you listen. Our guest, Andrew Walquist, is a PT with an impressive resume and a perspective on rehab that is fresh and effect
