Hand Therapy
Hand therapy helps patients with a variety of disorders and injuries of the hand, arm, wrist and fingers return to work and a more active lifestyle. Johns Hopkins hand therapists can help with conditions ranging from simple fingertip injuries, to hand, arm and finger transplants and reattachments.
Hand Therapy: Why Choose Johns Hopkins
![A hand therapist working with a patient on specialized equipment](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/specialty-areas/hand-pt.jpg)
- Our hand therapy team consists of board-certified hand therapists and experienced occupational therapists.
- We work closely with other specialists, including orthopedic hand surgeons, sports medicine experts and rehabilitation physicians.
- Our areas of expertise include rehabilitation after a surgery, therapeutic treatments, preventive care and functional assessments.
- Many of our hand therapists have worked with the most complicated cases, including hand transplants.
- Our pediatric experts and The Johns Hopkins Hospital provide hand therapy to children with a variety of orthopedic and neurological conditions.
Schedule An Appointment
Schedule by phone
Maryland clinics except Bayview: 443-997-5476
Johns Hopkins Bayview: 410-550-0414
Sibley Memorial Hospital: 202-364-7665
![](/-/media/jhm/images/icons-png---shared/phone-alt-blue.png?h=440&iar=0&w=640&hash=605EE75CD0859F18A5241A5CB5D4AF11)
Schedule online through MyChart
![](/-/media/jhm/images/icons-png---shared/desktop-blue.png?h=440&iar=0&w=640&hash=124BA3A73CF00DC42BEC3EE95EDEF9DE)
Who Can Benefit from Hand Therapy
Our hand therapists help patients who have experienced the following conditions or trauma of the arm, hand or fingers. We also treat patients who suffer from chronic problems that may affect hand function, such as autoimmune and neurologic disorders, chronic pain, diabetes, focal hand dystonia (musician’s cramp), anomalies present at birth and movement disorders related to psychological conditions.
- Crush injuries and other hand trauma
- Tendon and/or ligament tears and other tendon injuries
- Peripheral nerve disorders and other neurological conditions
- Fractures and dislocations
- Arthritis or tendonitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Dupuytren's contracture
- Joint replacement
- Infections
- Burns
- Sports-related injuries
- Amputations and reattachments
- Hand and arm challenges resulting from stroke
- Lymphedema
Our Therapists
Jordan Bradford | Occupational Therapist
Expertise: hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthosis fabrication
Location: Lutherville
![Headshot of Jordan Bradford](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/bradford-jordan-ot.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=9A39B6FE0DE18E17EA100658F45A6D0C)
Virginia Carman | Occupational Therapist
Certifications: Board-Certified Hand Therapist
Expertise: hand therapy
Location: Baltimore
![photo coming soon](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/photo-coming-soon.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=7F82557E5CC37EA8990A1AD05890AB42)
Princess Filippi | Occupational Therapist, Clinical Specialist
Certifications: Board-Certified Hand Therapist
Expertise: amputee and prosthetics training, hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthotic fabrication
Location: Baltimore
![headshot of Princess Filippi](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/filippi-princess-ot.jpg?h=888&iar=0&w=640&hash=DAFD9B97BDFB066D343E4A27DAAEB2ED)
Judy Garcia de Cubias | Occupational Therapist
Certifications: Credentialed in Physical Agent Modalities
Expertise: hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthosis fabrication
Location: Odenton
![headshot of Judy Garcia de Cubias](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/garcia-de-cubias-judy-ot.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=47B8AA4B6232DEB21FD085A23B164453)
Ashna Kadam | Occupational Therapist
Certification: Credentialed in Physical Agent Modalities
Expertise: hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity
Location: Baltimore
![photo coming soon](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/photo-coming-soon.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=7F82557E5CC37EA8990A1AD05890AB42)
Phyllis Kramer | Occupational Therapist
Certifications: Board-Certified Hand Therapist
Expertise: hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthotic fabrication
Location: Odenton
![headshot of Phyllis Kramer](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/kramer-phyllis-ot.jpg?h=888&iar=0&w=640&hash=E8C92384D762D4D187F3BD007A3815A7)
Elizabethann Krutz | Occupational Therapist
Certifications: Board-Certified Hand Therapist
Expertise: hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthosis fabrication
Location: Columbia and Lutherville
![Headshot of Liz Krutz](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/krutz-liz-ot.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=66A093016F7EA5A398719D5A9084C00B)
Dawn Kutcher | Occupational Therapist
Certifications: Board-Certified Hand Therapist, Certified Lymphedema Therapist
Expertise: breast cancer, hand therapy, lymphedema, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthotic fabrication
Location: White Marsh
![headshot of Dawn Kutcher](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/kutcher-dawn-ot.jpg?h=888&iar=0&w=640&hash=40853991322E41929FA3D8E8506525A0)
Lisa Marcoon | Occupational Therapist
Certification: Board-Certified Hand Therapist
Expertise: hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity
Location: Baltimore
![photo coming soon](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/photo-coming-soon.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=7F82557E5CC37EA8990A1AD05890AB42)
Jennifer Nicholas | Occupational Therapist, Rehab Therapy Manager
Certifications: Board-Certified Hand Therapist, Certified Lymphedema Therapist
Expertise: breast cancer, hand therapy, lymphedema, oncology, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthotic fabrication
Location: Lutherville
![headshot of Jennifer Nicholas](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/nicholas-jennifer-ot.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=CDF2017934D079984C27836F4779224C)
Kaitlin O'Sullivan | Occupational Therapist
Certifications: Board-Certified Hand Therapist
Expertise: hand therapy, neurologic rehabilitation, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthotic fabrication
Location: Baltimore
![headshot of Kaitlin O'Sullivan](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/osullivan-kaitlin-ot.jpg?h=800&iar=0&w=640&hash=FD0662CFC74A129C8816B79B5A02C7B8)
Rachel Pigott (She/Her/Hers) | Occupational Therapist, Hand Therapy Fellowship Coordinator
Certifications: Board-Certified Hand Therapist, Certified Lymphedema Therapist
Expertise: breast cancer, hand therapy, lymphedema, oncology, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthosis fabrication
Location: Lutherville and White Marsh
![headshot of Rachel Pigott](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/pigott-rachel-ot.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=08D907471376F840E26D8907FCDCA46E)
Autumn Puryear | Occupational Therapist
Expertise: hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthosis fabrication
Location: Lutherville
![Headshot of Autumn Puryear](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/puryear-autumn-ot.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=E3329FEC9CAD5F0E546ED0E47E5A46A8)
Joseph Reagan | Occupational Therapist
Certifications: Board-Certified Hand Therapist
Expertise: hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthotic fabrication
Location: Timonium
![headshot of Joseph Reagan](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/reagan-joe-ot.jpg?h=888&iar=0&w=640&hash=B73B7E32C46EC170DB25A6CADBD7F97D)
Elise Rochford | Occupational Therapist
Expertise: hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthosis fabrication
Location: Columbia
![headshot of Elise Rochford](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/rochford-elise-ot.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=631E40742704D0676C8722FDC6615380)
Maria Rothenheber | Occupational Therapist
Expertise: hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthotic fabrication
Location: Baltimore
![headshot of Maria Rothenheber](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/rothenheber-maria-ot.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=CDF9B9EB5FDDEDF5F0C01102BE755702)
Ryerson Stinson | Occupational Therapist
Certifications: Board-Certified Hand Therapist, Titleist Performance Institute Medical 2 Certified
Expertise: hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthotic fabrication, sports rehabilitation
Location: Columbia
![headshot of Ryerson Stinson](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/stinson-ryerson-ot.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=A9DF1E4A618B6EE22CACB6C2826157AE)
Jyo Supnekar | Occupational Therapist, Clinical Specialist
Certifications: Board-Certified Hand Therapist, Certified Lymphedema Therapist, certified in neurodevelopmental treatment for stroke
Expertise: breast cancer, hand therapy, lymphedema, neurologic rehabilitation, oncology, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthotic fabrication
Location: White Marsh
![headshot of Jyo Supnekar](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/supnekar-jyo-ot.jpg?h=888&iar=0&w=640&hash=573CF4081E2341F4FA4B70A1E00268F0)
Heather Weesner | Occupational Therapist
Certifications: Board-Certified Hand Therapist
Expertise: hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthosis fabrication
Location: Columbia
![headshot of Heather Weesner](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/weesner-heather-ot.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=9514A128155DF890F08EF9CA9061098C)
Samantha Witte | Occupational Therapist
Expertise: hand therapy, orthopedics - upper extremity, orthosis fabrication
Location: White Marsh
![Headshot of Samantha Witte](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/images/headshots/witte-samantha-ot.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=EB4ED19D9D8AFF234878C925160765FF)
I always try to make sure my patients leave with a smile. We see each patient over the course of eight weeks, on average, so relationship building is a very important part of what we do.
Princess Filippi, certified hand specialist and occupational therapist![]()
Our Hand Therapy Treatments
Our hand therapists have a variety of tools and techniques at their disposal. Depending on your condition and goals, we may recommend one or several of the following treatments to improve the function of your arm or hand:
![A hand therapist working with a patient](/-/media/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/specialty-areas/hand-therapist.jpg)
- Activity plans designed to increase motion, dexterity and strength, including exercises you can practice at home
- Daily living skills, including a work simulator to practice real-life hand tasks
- Compression therapy and edema management
- Desensitization, sensory re-education and sensory compensation techniques
- Electrical stimulation, such as iontophoresis
- Therapeutic modalities for tissue and joint preconditioning and mobilization to minimize pain and stiffness
- Functional and ergonomic assessments and modifications
- Joint protection and energy conservation training
- Behavioral management
- Techniques and suggestions for assistive devices
- Manual therapy and massage techniques
- Splints and custom-made orthotics to help protect your hand after a surgery, immobilize it, correct an injury or deformity, etc.
- Pain management
- Patient and family education
- Training for using prosthetics
- Scar tissue management
- Heat and cold treatments
- Wound care
- Sports taping
Hand Arthritis | Bill's Story
Bill Knudson developed arthritis in his left hand, which began to affect his ability to play the guitar and started impacting his job as a sign language interpreter. Bill sought care through Johns Hopkins Orthopaedics, working with Dr. LaPorte and occupational therapist Jyo Supnekar.