HandTherapistSpecialists

at
AlliancePhysicalTherapy

Hand Therapy

AllianceHandTherapyiscurrentlyprovidingcarethroughout
NorthernVirginiafromourclinicslocatedinAlexandria,Fairfax,
SpringfieldandWoodbridge.

OurHandtherapyProgramisaspecializedtreatmentprogram
focusingprimarilyonconditionsaffectingthehandandupper
extremities.OurCertifiedHandTherapistshaveahighdegreeof
specializationthatrequiresseveralthousandsofhourscontinuing
educationandadvancedcertification.

WhatcanHANDTHERAPYdoforyou?

Providepreventative,Nonoperativeorconservativetreatment

Manageacuteorchronicpain

Providewoundcaretoincludecareofopenandorsuturedwounds(preventionof
infectionandassistanceinhealing)

Controlhypertrophic(raisedand/orswollen)scarsorhypersensitivescars

Reduceswelling

Instructindesensitizationandsensoryreeducationfollowingnerveinjuryortrauma

Fabricatesplintsforpreventionorcorrectionofinjuryortoprotectsurgicalsitesor
toincreasemovement

Designandimplementhomeexerciseprogramstoincreasemotion,dexterity,and/or
strength

Trainintheperformanceofdailylifeskillsthroughadaptedmethodsandequipment

Conditioningpriortoreturningtowork

WhatissospecialaboutCertifiedHandTherapists?

ACertifiedHandTherapist(C.H.T.)isanoccupational/physicaltherapistwho
specializesinthetreatmentofhands.

Theymusthaveaminimumof5yearspostgraduateexperiencewithatleast4,000
hoursinhandtherapyandhavesuccessfullypassedtheHandTherapyCertification
Commissionexaminordertoobtainthesecredentials.

CHTsarededicatedprofessionalswhohaveacommitmenttomeetthehighest
standardsoftheirprofession.Thehandandarmhaveanextremelyintricate
anatomyandcomplexity.Rehabilitationofthehandandarmrequiresindepth
knowledgeanduptodatetechniques.

CertifiedHandTherapistshavethehighestlevelofcompetenceintherehabilitation
ofupperextremityinjuries.

CertifiedHandTherapistsareabletoinitiatetreatmentimmediatelyfollowingsurgery
oftenwhilestitchesarestillinplace.Earlyreferraltoahandtherapistiseffectivein
preventingfurthersurgeriesandobtaininganoptimaloutcome.

Services

Ourhighlyskilledhandtherapistsareproficientinthetreatmentofhandandupper
extremitypathologies,fromtheacutetothechronic.Underthedirectionofthereferring
physician,ourteamdesignseachtreatmentbasedonthephysician'sdiagnosisandthe
specificneedsofthepatient.Conditionstreatedinclude,butarenotlimitedtoarthritis,
fractures,tendoninjuries,peripheralnerveinjuries,carpaltunnelsyndrome,crushinjuries
andrepetitivemotiondisorder.Thescopeofhand/occupationaltherapyservicesoffered
include:woundandscarmanagement,edemacontrol,paincontrol,rangeofmotion
exercises,workhardening,workstimulation,strengthening,staticanddynamicsplint
fabrication,anddexteritytrainingamongothers.

CustomSplinting

WoundCare

Fluidotherapy

ParaffinWax

EdemaManagement

ScarManagement

Whirlpool

Ultrasound

Iontophoresis

Sensoryreeducation

Electricalstimulation

Jointmobilizations

Dexteritytraining

Individualizedexerciseprogram

Patientandfamilyeducation

Workhardening/conditioning

Conditions Treated

Arthritis

CarpalTunnelSyndrome

Dislocations

SprainsandStrains

NerveInjuries

Fractures

Tendonitis

TendonInjuries

Triggerfinger

Lacerations

AcuteandChronicPain

Postsurgical

What is a Certified Hand Therapist?

ACertifiedHandTherapist(C.H.T.)isanoccupational/physicaltherapistwho
specializesinthetreatmentofhands.
Theymusthaveaminimumof5yearspostgraduateexperiencewithatleast4,000hoursin
handtherapyandhavesuccessfullychallengedtheHandTherapyCertificationCommission
examinordertoobtainthesecredentials.CHTsarededicatedprofessionalswhohavea
commitmenttomeetthehigheststandardsoftheirprofession.Thehandandarmhavean
extremelyintricateanatomyandcomplexity.Rehabilitationofthehandandarmrequires
indepthknowledgeanduptodatetechniques.CertifiedHandTherapistshavethehighest
levelofcompetenceintherehabilitationofupperextremityinjuries.
CertifiedHandTherapistsareabletoinitiatetreatmentimmediatelyfollowingsurgeryoften
whilestitchesarestillinplace.Earlyreferraltoahandtherapistiseffectiveinpreventing
furthersurgeriesandobtaininganoptimaloutcome.

Hand Therapist Specialists

ClaudeBernard,OTR/L

ClaudeBernardgraduatedfromHowardUniversitywithaMaster'sDegreeinOccupational
Therapyin2013.Priortoearninghismasters,hereceivedanAthleticTrainingdegreeat
MethodistUniversityin2011.Hehasgainedvaluableclinicalexperienceinavarietyof
settingswhichincludeinpatientrehab,acutecare,SNIF,mentalhealthhospital,andsports
injuries.UponcompletionofOTschool,heworkedalongsidehismentor/doctorshand
therapyclinicwherehedevelopedskillsinhandtherapy,lymphedematherapy,and

pediatrictherapy.Workingatthehandtherapyclinichehasdevelopedtheskilltocombine
comprehensiveknowledgeofthestructureoftheupperlimbwithfunctionandactivityusing
specializedskillsinassessment,planningandtreatment.Hispassionhasalwaysbeenwith
theintricateknowledgeandspecializationofhandtherapy.Inhisfreetime,Claudeenjoys
playingbasketball,fitness,traveling,andspendingtimewithfamily.

DiedreFalls,OTR/L

AgraduateofThomasJeffersonMedicalCollegein1987,Diedrewentontoreceivingher
HandTherapyCertification(CHT)in1991.Hervastexperiencehasbeeninboththe
inpatientandoutpatientsettingsthroughouttheNorthernVirginiaarea.Hermostrecent
experienceincludesworkingdirectlywith2localHandsurgeons.Herpassionliesinpatient
care.Diedreenjoystreatingallupperextremityconditionsaswellaspostoperativecases.
Shehasmanagedmanycomplexhandinjuries.Diedresisalsoayogainstructor,which
allowshertocreatetheidealrehabilitativeenvironment.Sheiscurrentlytreatingpatientsin
ourFairfaxOffice.

GinaPorter,OTR/L

GinaPorterhas26yearsofexperienceasaHandSpecialist.In1987,shegraduatedwith
honorsinOccupationalTherapyfromIndianaUniversityPurdueUniversityatIndianapolis,
Indiana.Sincethenshehasworkedinawidevarietyofclinicalsettingsincludingoutpatient,
inpatient,andhomehealthcare.GinaisexperiencedinabroadspectrumofUpper
Extremitydiagnosesandisparticularlyskilledinsplintingandinnovativemodalities.While
shehasalsoservedastheDirectorofOccupationalTherapyatanoutpatientrehabilitation
center,shefindsherpassionisindirectpatientcareandinteraction.Beforemovingto
NorthernVirginiasheworkedcloselywithaorthopedichandsurgeonperforming
preventativeandpostsurgicaltherapies.Ginasinterestsoutsideofpatientcareinclude
hiking,biking,backpackingandotheroutdoorpursuits.Sheisalsoenjoyscooking,
travelling,andspendingtimewithherfamily.

KimberlyHartman,OTR/L,CHT
CertifiedHandTherapist

Director,HandTherapyProgramatAllianceRehab.Kimhasover15yearsofexperienceas
alicensedOccupationalTherapist(OT)withaspecialtyinHandTherapy.Shegraduated
fromTowsonStateUniversitywithaBachelorsDegreeinOccupationalTherapyandlater
wentontoattendoneofthepremiereschoolsinthenationforHandTherapy,Drexel
University,whereshereceivedapostgraduatelevelcertificateinHandandUpperQuarter
Rehabilitation.Shecombinedheracademicachievementswithover4000hoursofhand
experiencetoearnhercertificationinHandTherapy,aftershepassedtheNationalBoard

examinationin2005.Shebringsadvancedskillsintherehabilitationofhandinjuriesand
willbeofferingacompletespectrumofrehabilitativeservices.

TaylorRiviere,DPT,OTR/L

Dr.RivierereceivedherDoctorofPhysicalTherapydegreeatTheUniversityofSaint
AugustineforHealthSciencesin2015,andisDirectAccessCertified.Shealsoreceivedher
MastersinOccupationalTherapyfromTheUniversityofSaintAugustineforHealthSciences
in2013.ShereceivedherB.A.degreeinExerciseScienceattheUniversityofSaint
Augustinein2011.FollowinggraduationfromTheUniversityofSaintAugustineforHealth
Sciences,Dr.RivieremovedtoVirginiatopursueherdreamofworkingasatherapistand
discoverlifeoutsideofFlorida.Inherfreetimesheenjoysplayingflagfootball,workingout,
stayingactive,andreading.