Instructional Concurrent Session IV

Date/Time: Sat, September 30, 2023 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

A Collaborative Approach to Improve Outcomes for Patients with Symptomatic Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder

Room: Room 214B

Description:

Patients with hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) commonly experience pain, weakness, and joint instability that impacts upper extremity function. Symptomatic Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) is associated with chronic joint pain however, can present with multisystem involvement. Common symptoms include headaches, dysautonomia, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. This session will highlight intervention strategies for hand therapists to address patient concerns related to joint pain and instability within the context of their HSD and highlight a multi-disciplinary approach for addressing additional concerns and symptoms for maximizing overall function and quality of life. This course will outline an evidence-based approach to caring for patients with HSD including collaborative goal setting, outcome measures, therapeutic intervention, and multi-disciplinary treatment collaboration.

Objective(s):

  • Describe the diagnoses of Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome as well as the multiple body systems that can be impacted by hypermobility. Discuss current evidence in therapeutic management of the condition.

  • Demonstrate an approach to using outcome measures to facilitate collaborative goal setting with the patients using case examples.

  • Discuss the hand therapist's role and physical therapist's role in a multidisciplinary team. Describe and review case studies and discuss multi-disciplinary collaboration to help patient/client meet health care needs and therapy goals.

Getting the Whole Picture: Psychosocial and Pain Considerations in Upper Extremity Rehab

Room: Room 214D

Description:

This session will focus on the psychosocial components of upper extremity rehabilitation and offer strategies to both recognize and address this piece to improve compliance and clinical outcomes. This session will also explore pain, more specifically chronic and acute pain, and pain's impact on well-being, psychosocial factors, and clinical outcomes. The purpose of this session is to improve a clinician's ability to recognize "yellow flags" or factors that could negatively impact upper extremity rehabilitation (if not addressed) and to address them with confidence and competence.

Objective(s):

  • After this session, participants will be able to describe the impact that psychosocial factors have on upper extremity rehabilitation.

  • After this session, participants will feel confident discussing pain and its impact on well-being and clinical outcomes in upper extremity rehabilitation.

  • After this session, participants will be able to describe some "yellow flags" or relevant behaviors that need to be addressed in order to achieve a good clinical outcome.

Hand and Wrist Sports Injuries- A Team Approach

Room: Room 214A

Description:

Hand therapist and sports medicine specialist have a lot more in common and can share enough common ground to benefit from one another’s expertise. Understanding how the hand therapist and the hand surgeon work together and equally play a key role in their community of not only treating athletes and returning athletes to play, but working with parents, coaches, and training staff to decrease risk of injury and return to play faster and safe.

Objective(s):

  • Upon Completion of this session, therapist can apply evidence-based research into their practice in order to work with the hand surgeon to return athletes to play quicker and safely.

  • Upon Completion of this session, utilize community resources, such as athletic trainers, physical therapist/sports medicine professionals to give a multidisciplinary approach to rehabbing the athletes with a hand injury.

  • Upon completion of this session, therapist will confidently be able to evaluate all athletes with hand injuries, and then administer advanced therapeutic treatment plan to incorporate the whole body with neuro muscular reeducation.

Present and Future Leaders: Developing Effective Leadership Skills in Hand Therapy

Room: Room 213

Description:

The presentation will discuss what makes leaders effective. Participants will understand how continuing to develop leadership skills as hand therapists will contribute to the profession’s growth and provide opportunities to contribute to healthcare policy and reform. Participants will gain insight into the definition of leadership, types of leadership styles, and skills needed to be an effective leader. Current leaders in the profession will share their path to leadership. Presenters will provide suggestions on improving or growing leadership skills through informal and formal opportunities. Through presentation, examples, and open discussion, audience members will gain strategies for developing a leadership plan to pursue their leadership goals. This educational opportunity is presented by the ASHT Leadership Development Committee.

Objective(s):

  • At the conclusion of this session, attendees will identify areas of interest to volunteer in the society.

  • At the conclusion of this session attendees will describe skills necessary to be an effective leader.

  • At the conclusion of this session attendees will determine an action plan to achieve leadership goals and identify informal and formal leadership opportunities.

Taking your Idea to Market: Designing & Producing a New Clinical Product

Room: Room 214C

Description:

This 1-hour session for experienced therapists will clarify the available paths for converting a clinical idea into a marketable product. To illustrate the steps in bringing a product to market, the development of a NEW product being introduced at this ASHT Annual Meeting will be illustrated.
Included in this review will be answers about patents, trademarks, product names, FDA regulations, liability insurance, design process, prototyping, material choice, sizing, field testing,

Objective(s):

  • Upon completion of this presentation, experienced therapists will be able to self-evaluate the potential of a product idea.

  • Upon completion of this presentation, experienced therapists will be able to choose whether to become a manufacturer or a patent licensor.

  • Upon completion of this presentation, experienced therapists will be able to list five resources needed to produce a new product.