Hand Therapy Secrets

03/01/2026

Treating stiff MP joints? Watch how I position myself. I'm doing distraction without overusing my thumbs.

Your thumbs are your most valuable tool. If you wear them out on every patient, you won't have a long career.

Good manual therapy isn't just about comfort, it’s about making sure you’re able to continue doing what you love.

Want to learn more about protecting your hands while getting results? Save the location of the upcoming live workshops!

Upcoming Events 👉 https://handtherapysecrets.com/events/

03/01/2026

Make learning hand therapy easy by chunking it out.

If you are tired of trying to read on your own or programs that are too “stiff and dry” that don’t help you understand anatomy in the way you need, check out The Mentorship program.

In March, I’ll be going into wrist injuries and treatments.

Links in the bio or on my website to join.

03/01/2026

Figure eight. Oval eight. Circumferential. Tube splint. There's a bunch of options, but when do you even know when to use a splint?

Want to learn more about orthosis and get your practice in? Get clear on the clinical reasoning behind orthosis selection and practice at my Orthosis Workshop on June 27-28th in Miami, FL.

2-Day Orthosis Workshop 👉 https://handtherapysecrets.com/orthosis-workshop

02/28/2026

02/28/2026

How do you know what's normal for your patient? You compare.

This patient had 20 degrees of MP flexion, which seemed like a problem.. but then remember, you have to compare. Their therapist was working hard to gain more MP flexion when their other thumb didn't have that motion.

Want to build confidence in your clinical skills and reasoning? Join The Mentorship Program. We cover real patient cases and the anatomy behind every treatment.

The Mentorship Program 👉 https://handtherapysecrets.com/looking-for-mentorship-in-hand-therapy/

02/28/2026

Becoming a CHT shouldn’t be hard. You can do it!

02/28/2026

If your thumbs hurt, you're doing manual therapy wrong.

Position yourself better so you don't have to work so hard. Your career and thumbs will thank you.

🎥 Full video on YouTube ➡ https://youtu.be/1q1HSzL6zRQ

And if you’re studying for the CHT exam, I’m hosting a FREE masterclass TODAY, Feb 28th at 12PM EST.

📢 How to Study for the CHT Exam with Less Overwhelm in Less Time

Sign Up Here 👉 https://handtherapysecrets.com/masterclass/

02/27/2026

In this clip, I'm having my patient pick up glass pebbles as both an exercise for hand coordination and fine motor skills— all while having her elbow anchored onto the table so she can exercise supination and pronation.

Want to feel more confident choosing the right treatment for the right patient? Join The Mentorship Program where we cover anatomy, patient cases, and protocols you'll actually use in the clinic.

The Mentorship Program 👉 https://handtherapysecrets.com/looking-for-mentorship-in-hand-therapy/

02/27/2026

As we assess nerve tension, we learn a lot from moving the arms. But here's what I want you to understand: nerves are sensitive. Less is often more when you're testing them.

Nerves innervate muscles. When a nerve is irritated, the muscles it supplies don't feel right. The patient compensates. And those compensations? They create muscle imbalances that keep the cycle going.

So you're not just treating the nerve. You're treating the imbalances that developed because of it.

This is the kind of clinical reasoning that changes outcomes.

If you’re a therapist studying for the CHT exam, you know that it can feel overwhelming. How do you approach each case, remember all the protocols, and know which treatments to apply? If you're ready to take the next step in your career but aren't sure how to begin, let me help. My CHT Exam Prep On-Demand program is your guide to starting, and passing, with clarity and confidence.

Exam Prep On-Demand 👉 https://handtherapysecrets.com/exam-prep-on-demand/

02/26/2026

Look at the difference between these two thumbs.

This patient is recovering from an extensor tendon laceration and an abductor pollicis longus laceration. On one side, you can see how much extension we're working toward. On the other, where we are now.

But here's something important: when we talk about opposition, we're not just looking for any contact between thumb and fingers. True opposition is nail to nail—tip of thumb to tip of index finger. If the fingers are flat, that's not opposition.
Small details. Big differences in outcomes.

Want to further your skills as a therapist? Join The Mentorship Program where we cover anatomy, patient cases, treatments, protocols, and injuries that you should know and will encounter!

The Mentorship Program 👉 https://handtherapysecrets.com/looking-for-mentorship-in-hand-therapy/

02/25/2026

When you’re working a scar, you always want to work above and below it, and always protect the ligament. The first metacarpal wants to roll in order to touch, so in order to help it to roll, you move the skin and ligaments.

When you’re working a scar, you always want to work above and below it. The scar doesn't exist in isolation… it's connected to the skin, ligaments, and structures around it.

With the thumb, here's what's happening, the first metacarpal wants to roll in order to touch. Your job is to help it roll by moving the skin and ligaments, and making sure that you are protecting the ligament.

Want to deepen your anatomy knowledge? Join The Mentorship Program where we break down the structures and movements you need to know. We're covering thumb injuries this month!

The Mentorship Program 👉 https://handtherapysecrets.com/looking-for-mentorship-in-hand-therapy/

Links in bio.

02/25/2026

When working the thumb, make sure you’re working the MP, stabilize it, then work the IP. Then you can go into the CMC and work into extension all while maintaining the rotational pull of the thumb.

I talk more about working with post-fracture thumb stiffness in today’s Youtube video!

🎥 Full video here ➡ https://youtu.be/7sG1dfO27mc

And if you’re struggling to study for the CHT exam, I’m hosting a FREE masterclass Feb 28th at 12PM EST.

📢 How to Study for the CHT Exam with Less Overwhelm in Less Time

Sign up here 👉 https://handtherapysecrets.com/masterclass/