Stark State College
North Canton, OH
Date: Thursday, August 6, 2026
Time: 8 am – approximately 5:30 pm
Location:
Stark State College
6200 Frank Avenue NW
North Canton, OH 44720
Instructor:
Kantessa Stewart, OTR/L, CHT
Essentials of Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation for the General Practitioner
1-Day Course:
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
Continuing Education Credit:
The course is pending approval for 8 contact hours, or 0.8 CEUS, from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the Board of Certification of Certified Athletic Trainers (BOC-ATC).
Registration Fee:
Members $280
Non-Members $325
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.
For further information or questions regarding this course, contact education@asht.org.
Kantessa Stewart has been an Occupational Therapist since 1999 and a Certified Hand Therapist since 2007. She graduated from The Ohio State University earning her Bachelor of Science in Allied Health Professions in 1999 and attended Drexel University, obtaining a Certificate in the Advanced Practice of Hand and Upper Quarter Rehabilitation in 2007. Kantessa has spent the majority of her career in out-patient orthopedics. She started in a hospital-based clinic for the first 10 years of her career, moving to a physician-owned practice for the last 16 years. Kantessa has developed transitional work programs providing specialized hand therapy in manufacturing facilities, expanded a mall hand therapy program within a local hospital, and opened hand therapy satellite clinics for the physician-owned practice where she is employed.
Kantessa has worked diligently to expand the knowledge of Hand Therapy in western Ohio. She has developed sound programs with skilled therapists, provided continuous learning opportunities for staff and started the Dayton Hand Therapy Group, scheduling bimonthly continuing education. Kantessa has lectured on various topics of the upper extremity at both state and national conferences including ASHT, OOTA and ASSH, Virtual Platforms and has taught Orthosis Fabrication at Rhodes State College. Currently she is employed within the Hand Center of Southwestern Ohio/Orthopedic Associates as a Clinical Manager, carrying a full patient caseload. She collaborates with the surgeons on protocol development, assists in Journal Club planning, organizes staffing in therapy clinics and serves as a clinical specialist within the Hand Therapy Department.
Kantessa thrives on challenges and strives to search for solutions for patients not responding to traditional therapy techniques. Her interest in CMMS began after taking a Virtual CMMS Course taught by Robyn Midgley. Since then she has worked hard to utilize Judy Colditz’s technique in the clinic to help patients with limited motion not responding to their courses of treatment. Kantessa continued to further develop her understanding of the CMMS technique by mentoring from Judy Colditz to problem-solve difficult cases. She assists in leading the bimonthly CMMS Discussion Group sponsored by BraceLab and worked with a team of hand therapists to develop the one and two day Hands-on Casting Motion to Mobilize Stiffness Travelling course for ASHT released in December 2024. Kantessa is passionate about sharing the CMMS technique with other therapists because of the change it has made in her own practice and the successful outcomes she has obtained with her patients. Kantessa is excited to be presenting on the CMMS technique at IFSHT 2025, the Texas Hand Society meeting in 2025 and the traveling ASHT Hands-on CMMS course.
Contact info:
stewartkantessa@gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/kantessa-stewart-otr-l-cht-853219235