Essentials of Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation is an ASHT Education on Tour traveling course offering designed to build strong foundational skills in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation. This in-person course brings together core content in distal upper extremity evaluation and treatment principles, as well as essential orthotic fabrication, giving clinicians a comprehensive, practice-ready introduction to the specialty. This offering is generally geared toward those with minimal or no prior experience in this specialty.
Sites can host a one-day course of Essentials of Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation for the General Practitioner OR Essentials of Hand and Upper Extremity Orthosis Fabrication, or a two-day option that includes both courses.
Interested in bringing this course to your site? Please complete the course request application.
Upcoming Essentials Courses
Essentials of Hand & UE Rehabilitation for the General Practitioner &
Essentials of Hand & UE Orthosis Fabrication
Elkins Park, PA
March 14-15, 2026
More Information/Register
Essentials of Hand & Upper Extremity Rehabilitation for the General Practitioner
Essentials of Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation for the General Practitioner is a one-day course option targeted to provide occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, physical therapists and physical therapy assistants with foundational knowledge and for treating conditions of the hand, wrist and forearm. It is generally geared toward those with minimal or no prior experience in this specialty. The course consists of a one-day theory application including anatomy, evaluation techniques, wound healing principles and rehabilitation strategies to address common diagnoses including fractures, nerve compression syndromes and ligamentous injuries.
Learning Objectives
- Identify clinically relevant bony and soft tissue structures of the upper extremity
- Explain the relationship between anatomical structures, functional biomechanics, and common pathologies of the upper extremity
- Demonstrate understanding of wrist and hand kinematics
- Describe the components and sequence of a comprehensive upper extremity clinical examination
- Select and describe standardized measures for assessing range of motion, strength, sensibility, and edema
- Identify commonly used patient reported outcomes measures for evaluating hand and upper extremity function
- Demonstrate understanding of ligament injuries, including sprains and joint dislocations of the hand and wrist
- Explain the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of tendinopathies of the hand and wrist
- Outline the rehabilitation progression following fractures of the forearm, wrist, and hand
- Compare and contrast the presentation, pathology, and prognosis of nerve compression injuries versus lacerations
- Describe the rehabilitation phases for upper extremity nerve palsies
- Describe principles for non-operative interventions for osteoarthritis of the wrist and hand
Essentials of Hand and Upper Extremity Orthosis Fabrication
Essentials of Hand and Upper Extremity Orthosis Fabrication is a hands-on, lab-based course that provides a strong foundation in custom orthosis fabrication. The one-day course option begins with an introduction to fundamental principles of orthotic design, materials and clinical decision-making. Each participant will have the opportunity to fabricate five to seven custom orthoses.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the foundational principles, precautions, and clinical considerations involved in fabricating static orthoses and static progressive orthoses
- Fabricate six custom upper extremity orthoses, demonstrating competency in the required fabrication skills
- Identify and articulate the indications, precautions, and contraindications for the use of upper extremity orthoses
- Apply knowledge of orthoses by integrating clinical reasoning and hands-on skills during fabrication and case-based discussion
Orthoses to be fabricated (subject to change)
- Thumb spica (hand based or forearm based)
- Ulnar gutter (hand based or forearm based)
- Long arm orthosis (anterior or posterior)
- Resting hand orthosis
- Static progressive PIP flexion orthosis
- Radial nerve palsy orthosis
- Finger based orthoses: mallet, relative motion, gutter
Host this Course at Your Facility
If your organization would like to host this course at your site, please complete the request form (coming soon). Please note, there is a minimum of 14 weeks lead time from when the course date is scheduled to ensure there is adequate time to plan and promote a successful course.
Essentials Course Request Form (coming soon)
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited enrollment is planned to ensure quality of course and ample instructor-participant attention. Cancellation of registration up to two weeks prior to course date will result in a refund minus a $50 cancellation fee. THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS AFTER THIS ESTABLISHED DEADLINE. It is the responsibility of the registrant to notify ASHT of cancellation in writing or by email to education@asht.org. Refunds will be issued within 30 days of notification. In the unlikely event that a course is canceled, ASHT will provide full refund of the registration fee only.
All grievances may be directed to the ASHT Education Division by sending an email to education@asht.org.
