Community Hospital Long Beach is proud to offer a continuum of rehabilitation care using the latest innovative treatments in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and hand therapy to help you maximize your independence and quality of life.
Hand Therapy is a non-surgical option that helps strengthen joints and improve mobility.
Certified Hand Therapist, Maria Satterfield, OTR/L, CHT, explains the different types of arthritis, causes and how hand therapy can benefit your arthritis.
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Arthritis and How Hand Therapy Can Help
Featured Speaker:
Organizations: Community Hospital Long Beach
Outpatient Rehabilitation & Physical Therapy at MemorialCare
Maria Satterfield, OTR/L, CHT
Maria Satterfield, OTR/L, CHT, CLT, CEAS, obtained her Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2000. Maria has been in practice for more than 12 years and has mentored and supervised numerous therapists and students. She completed the Kaiser Hand Fellowship Program and became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2005. Maria specializes in treating traumatic hand injuries and excels in casting and fabricating dynamic and static splints.Organizations: Community Hospital Long Beach
Outpatient Rehabilitation & Physical Therapy at MemorialCare
Transcription:
Arthritis and How Hand Therapy Can Help
Deborah Howell (Host): Hello and welcome to the show. You’re listening to Weekly Dose of Wellness brought to you by MemorialCare Health System. I’m Deborah Howell and today’s guest is Maria Satterfield, a certified hand therapist at Community Hospital, Long Beach. Maria obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2000. She has been in practice for more than 12 years and has mentored and supervised numerous therapists and students. She completed the Kaiser Hand Fellowship program and became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2005. Maria specializes in treating traumatic hand injuries and excels in casting and fabricating dynamic and static splints. Welcome, Maria. Good morning! Maria Satterfield (Guest): Hi! Good morning. How are you? Deborah: Very fine. Today’s show is all about arthritis and how hand therapy can really help. First of all, what really is arthritis? Satterfield: Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints. Deborah: That’s it, huh, that simple? Satterfield: That’s it. Yes. Deborah: Is there a cause of it? Satterfield: Yes, there are many causes of arthritis. One can be genetic. Another factor is age; as we get older, our cartilage becomes more brittle. Excess body weight can also cause arthritis, especially in the hips and the knees. Having previous injuries, illness or infection; occupational hazards, for example, for patients who work in a heavy construction and assembly line type of works are predisposed to having arthritis. Deborah: Because of the repetitive motion? Satterfield: That’s correct. And lastly, same thing with sports, high-demand sports can also cause arthritis. Deborah: That’s because, again, of repetitive motion; the same kind of pounding and the same of joints, day after day after day. Satterfield: That’s correct. Deborah: Okay. Now, something you wanted to speak to earlier: the types of arthritis. Satterfield: Yes, there are over 100 different types of arthritis. The most common types that I see are the rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Deborah: Can you delineate this for me? What is rheumatic? Let’s start with that. Satterfield: Rheumatic is more of a systemic type of disease. It doesn’t just affect the joints, but it also affects the organs. And then, osteoarthritis is more of the wear-and-tear of the joints. Over time, the cartilage deteriorates, and sometimes the new bone forms within the joint that causes inflammation. Deborah: Boy, I didn’t realize that arthritis could affect the organs. Can you give us an example of that? Satterfield: For example, inflammation of the stomach or the heart, pericarditis, that also affects arthritis. Deborah: Wow, it’s an insidious little devil, isn’t it? Satterfield: Yes. Deborah: All right. Now, let’s do something to help the cause. What is hand therapy? Satterfield: Hand therapy is a type of rehabilitation of the hand, wrist, arm and/or shoulder. It’s performed by an occupational therapist or a physical therapist. The main goal is to restore first the use of hands. Deborah: Who’s a good candidate for hand therapy? Satterfield: Anybody can be good candidate for a hand therapy, if they’re having pains, weakness, stiffness of their upper extremity from post-operative procedure, traumatic injury, or repetitive strain type of injuries. Deborah: How can hand therapy really help the arthritis? Satterfield: Hand therapy helps to treat the arthritis by managing the pain, by use of splinting. Therapists will educate patients by using joint protection, body mechanics, energy conservation techniques, and providing safe exercise programs to patients. Deborah: Okay, that’s the key word, safe exercise programs, because many people, specially athletes, if they know it all, and they get out there after a surgery or something like that, or may gain 30 or 40 pounds as they go through life, they think they can still go out there and play four sets of tennis like they used to. Satterfield: Yes. Deborah: So, safe exercise is what you help patients find for that particular person. Satterfield: Yes. Deborah: What can I expect to happen during my hand therapy session? Satterfield: During your initial visit, the therapist will complete an evaluation so he or she can customize a treatment plan and therapeutic goals individualized for you. And then, the patient will be provided with splints, as needed, and then be educated on joint protection and energy conservation. The therapist may also use different types of modalities to manage the arthritic pain, swelling and stiffness, for example, use of ultrasound, laser light therapy. Deborah: It’s very advanced from the old days. Satterfield: Yes. Deborah: They used to just slap a cast on you and say, “Heal, and then, go back to your life.” Not so, anymore. Satterfield: I think the most important thing is really educating the patient on what’s available program out there also in the community. Deborah: Right, what to do and what not to do. Don’t try to zip up your own jeans the day after you break your wrist. Satterfield:That’s correct. Deborah: Especially your tight jeans. Okay, let’s talk a little bit about splints. I recently had a dear friend who broke his wrist and I was amazed to see his dynamic and static splint. He went through the process of healing. Can you talk a little bit about both of those types? Satterfield: Yes. Static splint can be a protective splint or it can be a splint that will help increase the joints’ range of motion. It’s static because there’s no movable part to it. It’s the difference between static and dynamic. Deborah: Okay, nothing moves at all. Again, right after a surgery, you’d want the one that is not dynamic. Satterfield: That’s correct. Deborah: Okay, you’d want the static splint. Satterfield: Yes, because it just rests the injured area. Deborah: Do they still have those big, thick Plaster of Paris- type of splints? Satterfield: Occasionally, it can be used as a tool for increasing range of motion. It can be done like a serial cast, serial splint type of modality to where the patient comes in on a weekly basis, and we just have to change this form and advance the range of the joint. Deborah: Okay. Satterfield: That can be used still. Or, on the finger, it can be used like, again, as a serial cast to improve the range, the movement of the joint. Deborah: And what goes for the fingers goes for the toes, as well? Satterfield: I believe so, but it’s not as common, I think. Deborah: You don’t hear a lot about toe therapy. You use your toes as much as you use your hands, just in different ways. Satterfield: That’s correct, very important for our balance. Deborah: I have a few more questions but I want to get this in. Where can I learn more about the Hand Therapy Clinic at Community Hospital Long Beach? Satterfield: Yes. If you want to learn more about our program, you may contact us at 562-494-0685, or log on to memorialcare.org/chlb. Deborah: Okay, let’s give that last one, one more time if you would. Satterfield: Sure. It’s 562-494-0685 or log on to memorialcare.org/chlb. Deborah: How important is it to get hand therapy after you’ve had an operation? Satterfield: It is very important because you do need to protect the surgical site but people will tend to over-guard it, maybe the hand. It’s important for the patient to see a hand therapist so that it can recover a lot faster, so they know how to manage swelling, how to move correctly and safely. Deborah: As they say, “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.” Satterfield: That’s correct. Deborah: But there’s a fine line between overusing it and using it as well. That’s why there are specialists like Maria. Thank you so much, Maria. I want to get your last name correct. It is Satterfield. Is that correct? Satterfield: Yes, that’s correct. Deborah: Maria Satterfield. It’s been just a total pleasure having you on this show today. Any last thought for us? Satterfield: I think a lot of people are not familiar with hand therapy. I’m glad that you’re doing this show to educate our audience that there is such a specialty. Deborah: For post-surgical, and for arthritis, and for many other conditions, you’ll know if you have an issue on your hand, make sure you go to your doctor and get it checked out, and maybe you’ll even have Maria for your therapist. That would be a good thing for everybody. Satterfield: Thank you. Deborah: Thank you so much. I am Deborah Howell. Please join us again next time. We’ll be exploring another Weekly Dose of Wellness It’s brought to you, of course, by the good folks at MemorialCare Health System. Check them out today. It’s a wonderful website. You’ll learn a lot. Have yourself a wonderful, happy day.
Arthritis and How Hand Therapy Can Help
Deborah Howell (Host): Hello and welcome to the show. You’re listening to Weekly Dose of Wellness brought to you by MemorialCare Health System. I’m Deborah Howell and today’s guest is Maria Satterfield, a certified hand therapist at Community Hospital, Long Beach. Maria obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2000. She has been in practice for more than 12 years and has mentored and supervised numerous therapists and students. She completed the Kaiser Hand Fellowship program and became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2005. Maria specializes in treating traumatic hand injuries and excels in casting and fabricating dynamic and static splints. Welcome, Maria. Good morning! Maria Satterfield (Guest): Hi! Good morning. How are you? Deborah: Very fine. Today’s show is all about arthritis and how hand therapy can really help. First of all, what really is arthritis? Satterfield: Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints. Deborah: That’s it, huh, that simple? Satterfield: That’s it. Yes. Deborah: Is there a cause of it? Satterfield: Yes, there are many causes of arthritis. One can be genetic. Another factor is age; as we get older, our cartilage becomes more brittle. Excess body weight can also cause arthritis, especially in the hips and the knees. Having previous injuries, illness or infection; occupational hazards, for example, for patients who work in a heavy construction and assembly line type of works are predisposed to having arthritis. Deborah: Because of the repetitive motion? Satterfield: That’s correct. And lastly, same thing with sports, high-demand sports can also cause arthritis. Deborah: That’s because, again, of repetitive motion; the same kind of pounding and the same of joints, day after day after day. Satterfield: That’s correct. Deborah: Okay. Now, something you wanted to speak to earlier: the types of arthritis. Satterfield: Yes, there are over 100 different types of arthritis. The most common types that I see are the rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Deborah: Can you delineate this for me? What is rheumatic? Let’s start with that. Satterfield: Rheumatic is more of a systemic type of disease. It doesn’t just affect the joints, but it also affects the organs. And then, osteoarthritis is more of the wear-and-tear of the joints. Over time, the cartilage deteriorates, and sometimes the new bone forms within the joint that causes inflammation. Deborah: Boy, I didn’t realize that arthritis could affect the organs. Can you give us an example of that? Satterfield: For example, inflammation of the stomach or the heart, pericarditis, that also affects arthritis. Deborah: Wow, it’s an insidious little devil, isn’t it? Satterfield: Yes. Deborah: All right. Now, let’s do something to help the cause. What is hand therapy? Satterfield: Hand therapy is a type of rehabilitation of the hand, wrist, arm and/or shoulder. It’s performed by an occupational therapist or a physical therapist. The main goal is to restore first the use of hands. Deborah: Who’s a good candidate for hand therapy? Satterfield: Anybody can be good candidate for a hand therapy, if they’re having pains, weakness, stiffness of their upper extremity from post-operative procedure, traumatic injury, or repetitive strain type of injuries. Deborah: How can hand therapy really help the arthritis? Satterfield: Hand therapy helps to treat the arthritis by managing the pain, by use of splinting. Therapists will educate patients by using joint protection, body mechanics, energy conservation techniques, and providing safe exercise programs to patients. Deborah: Okay, that’s the key word, safe exercise programs, because many people, specially athletes, if they know it all, and they get out there after a surgery or something like that, or may gain 30 or 40 pounds as they go through life, they think they can still go out there and play four sets of tennis like they used to. Satterfield: Yes. Deborah: So, safe exercise is what you help patients find for that particular person. Satterfield: Yes. Deborah: What can I expect to happen during my hand therapy session? Satterfield: During your initial visit, the therapist will complete an evaluation so he or she can customize a treatment plan and therapeutic goals individualized for you. And then, the patient will be provided with splints, as needed, and then be educated on joint protection and energy conservation. The therapist may also use different types of modalities to manage the arthritic pain, swelling and stiffness, for example, use of ultrasound, laser light therapy. Deborah: It’s very advanced from the old days. Satterfield: Yes. Deborah: They used to just slap a cast on you and say, “Heal, and then, go back to your life.” Not so, anymore. Satterfield: I think the most important thing is really educating the patient on what’s available program out there also in the community. Deborah: Right, what to do and what not to do. Don’t try to zip up your own jeans the day after you break your wrist. Satterfield:That’s correct. Deborah: Especially your tight jeans. Okay, let’s talk a little bit about splints. I recently had a dear friend who broke his wrist and I was amazed to see his dynamic and static splint. He went through the process of healing. Can you talk a little bit about both of those types? Satterfield: Yes. Static splint can be a protective splint or it can be a splint that will help increase the joints’ range of motion. It’s static because there’s no movable part to it. It’s the difference between static and dynamic. Deborah: Okay, nothing moves at all. Again, right after a surgery, you’d want the one that is not dynamic. Satterfield: That’s correct. Deborah: Okay, you’d want the static splint. Satterfield: Yes, because it just rests the injured area. Deborah: Do they still have those big, thick Plaster of Paris- type of splints? Satterfield: Occasionally, it can be used as a tool for increasing range of motion. It can be done like a serial cast, serial splint type of modality to where the patient comes in on a weekly basis, and we just have to change this form and advance the range of the joint. Deborah: Okay. Satterfield: That can be used still. Or, on the finger, it can be used like, again, as a serial cast to improve the range, the movement of the joint. Deborah: And what goes for the fingers goes for the toes, as well? Satterfield: I believe so, but it’s not as common, I think. Deborah: You don’t hear a lot about toe therapy. You use your toes as much as you use your hands, just in different ways. Satterfield: That’s correct, very important for our balance. Deborah: I have a few more questions but I want to get this in. Where can I learn more about the Hand Therapy Clinic at Community Hospital Long Beach? Satterfield: Yes. If you want to learn more about our program, you may contact us at 562-494-0685, or log on to memorialcare.org/chlb. Deborah: Okay, let’s give that last one, one more time if you would. Satterfield: Sure. It’s 562-494-0685 or log on to memorialcare.org/chlb. Deborah: How important is it to get hand therapy after you’ve had an operation? Satterfield: It is very important because you do need to protect the surgical site but people will tend to over-guard it, maybe the hand. It’s important for the patient to see a hand therapist so that it can recover a lot faster, so they know how to manage swelling, how to move correctly and safely. Deborah: As they say, “If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.” Satterfield: That’s correct. Deborah: But there’s a fine line between overusing it and using it as well. That’s why there are specialists like Maria. Thank you so much, Maria. I want to get your last name correct. It is Satterfield. Is that correct? Satterfield: Yes, that’s correct. Deborah: Maria Satterfield. It’s been just a total pleasure having you on this show today. Any last thought for us? Satterfield: I think a lot of people are not familiar with hand therapy. I’m glad that you’re doing this show to educate our audience that there is such a specialty. Deborah: For post-surgical, and for arthritis, and for many other conditions, you’ll know if you have an issue on your hand, make sure you go to your doctor and get it checked out, and maybe you’ll even have Maria for your therapist. That would be a good thing for everybody. Satterfield: Thank you. Deborah: Thank you so much. I am Deborah Howell. Please join us again next time. We’ll be exploring another Weekly Dose of Wellness It’s brought to you, of course, by the good folks at MemorialCare Health System. Check them out today. It’s a wonderful website. You’ll learn a lot. Have yourself a wonderful, happy day.