Do I need a referral to start hand therapy?

In Rhode Island and Massachusetts you can start therapy without a referral in most cases, though some insurance plans require one for coverage. If you’ve had surgery or a fracture, bring whatever paperwork your surgeon gave you. We’ll help you sort out the referral question when you book.

What's the difference between a CHT and a regular PT or OT?

Any licensed PT or OT can treat a hand, but a Certified Hand Therapist has logged at least 4,000 hours of direct upper-extremity work and passed a national advanced-practice exam on top of their license. In practice, that means more reps with conditions like tendon repairs, nerve compressions, and complex fractures — and the ability to fabricate a custom splint at your visit instead of referring you out.

How long does hand therapy usually take?

It depends entirely on the condition. Something like trigger finger or mild carpal tunnel may resolve in a handful of visits. A tendon repair or distal radius fracture typically runs several weeks to a few months, following the healing timeline of the tissue. We’ll give you a realistic range after the first evaluation.

Will my insurance cover it?

Hand therapy is billed as standard occupational or physical therapy, so it’s covered by most commercial plans, Medicare, and Medicaid the same way any therapy visit would be. Custom splints are usually a separate line item and coverage varies. Our front desk verifies your benefits before your first visit so there are no surprises.

What should I bring to my first visit?

Bring your insurance card, a photo ID, any paperwork or post-op protocol from your surgeon, and a list of medications. If you have imaging reports (X-ray, MRI, nerve study), bring those too — or have the office that ordered them send them over. Wear something that lets us get to your shoulder if needed.

What if my surgeon already gave me a protocol?

Bring it. We follow the surgeon’s protocol as the starting point and contact their office directly if anything needs clarification. Your rehab stays aligned with their plan — we don’t freelance around it.

Certified Hand Therapy

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Care from a Certified Hand Therapist

If you have a hand, wrist, elbow, or shoulder problem, a Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is the clinician you want seeing it. At Highbar Health, our CHT works with patients across Rhode Island and Massachusetts on everything from carpal tunnel and tennis elbow to post-surgical tendon repairs and complex fractures.

The CHT credential means at least 4,000 hours of direct upper-extremity practice and a passed national advanced-practice exam. Fewer than 7,000 clinicians in the United States hold it. What that translates to for you: a clinician who treats the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand as one connected system, fabricates your custom splint in-clinic, and communicates directly with your referring surgeon or physician.

Conditions we treat

Carpal tunnel syndrome
Cubital tunnel syndrome (ulnar nerve at the elbow)
Trigger finger
de Quervain’s tenosynovitis
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)
Distal radius (wrist) fractures
Scaphoid and other carpal fractures
Metacarpal and finger fractures
Post-surgical rehab: tendon and ligament repairs
Post-surgical rehab: joint replacements and fusions
Thumb CMC arthritis and hand osteoarthritis
Dupuytren’s contracture (pre- and post-procedure)
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
Hand and arm edema, including post-surgical and lymphedema
Custom splinting, orthotic fabrication, and wound care

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What Is a Certified Hand Therapist

A Certified Hand Therapist is an occupational or physical therapist who has gone well past entry-level training. To earn the CHT credential, a clinician must log at least 4,000 hours of direct, hands-on upper-extremity practice and then pass a national advanced-practice examination. Fewer than 7,000 CHTs currently practice in the United States.

The credential matters because CHTs do not just see hands — they're experts for the entire upper extremity, treating the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand as one connected system. For you, that means a clinician who can read your imaging, talk directly with your surgeon, fabricate a custom splint at your visit, and progress your rehab without sending you somewhere else for the next step.

Conditions We Treat

Hand, Wrist, Elbow & Shoulder Conditions

Our Certified Hand Therapist treats the full upper extremity — from nerve compressions and tendon issues to fractures, post-surgical rehab, arthritis, and complex hand conditions.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Cubital tunnel syndrome

Custom splinting and orthotic fabrication

de Quervain's tenosynovitis

Distal radius fractures

Dupuytren's contracture

Golfer's elbow

Hand and arm edema

Hand osteoarthritis

One-on-one evaluation of the whole upper extremity. Shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand get assessed together because they work together — not just the part that hurts.

Custom splints and orthotics fabricated in-clinic. Made at your visit. No separate trip to an orthotist, no two-week wait for a fitting.

Hands-on manual therapy. Soft tissue work, joint mobilization, and scar and adhesion management — matched to where you are in healing.

Progressive loading and tendon/nerve gliding. Move from protected motion to real-world strength on a timeline that fits your tissue, not a generic protocol.

Direct communication with your surgeon or physician. Your rehab stays aligned with the surgical plan and any restrictions get flagged early.