About Course
This introductory course will identify the basic physiological processes related to osteoarthritis of the hand and wrist. Best practices for the treatment of patients will be covered. Evidence and research related to arthritis, therapy and functional use will be presented. Participants will learn the most relevant clinical treatment techniques and patient education for the clients.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, the participant will be able to:
- Identify the physiological processes that cause osteoarthritis
- Identify functional difficulties that can arise from hand/wrist arthritis
- Evaluate hand and wrist arthritis patients
- Provide clients with education on joint protection and adaptive devices.
- Create effective exercise programs for clients with hand/wrist arthritis
- Assist clients in identifying pain management techniques for OA
Course Agenda:
Intro: 5 min
Anatomy and Physiology of hand/wrist osteoarthritis 20 min
Clinical signs and symptoms of OA 20 min
Evaluation of the hand/wrist OA client 15 min
Functional impairment related to OA 10 min
Evidence of best therapy practice for the treatment of hand/wrist OA 15 min
Joint protection and adaptive devices 15 min
Orthosis for hand/wrist OA 10 min
Q & A 10 min
TOTAL 120 min
Contact Hours: 2 Hours
Speaker Bio: Elisa Marks, MS, CEAS, OTR/L, CHT
Elisa is currently a practicing Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist at The Center for Health Enhancement and Rehabilitation in Pacific Palisades, CA. Additionally, she is a Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist and provides individualized on-site ergonomic assessments. Previously she has held the positions of Outpatient Therapy Supervisor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, CA. and Clinical Specialist II in hand therapy at Kaiser Permanente in Woodland Hills, CA.
She received her CHT in 2001. She is the co-author of ASHT’s Treatment Guidelines for Tendon Transfer. Elisa also served on the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee Board of Directors for 6 years. Elisa is a frequent speaker at national, state, and local conferences.
