Welcome Our Newest Hand Therapist, Laura Burger (OTR/L, CHT)!

Laura Burger, Occupational Hand Therapist (OTR/L, CHT), joined our rehabilitation team in Sterling, VA this week. Since graduating from Towson University with a degree in occupational therapy in 2003, Laura has been assisting individuals in being as independent as possible in both outpatient and inpatient settings.

Laura brings nearly 20 years of experience in treating injuries to the upper extremity and fabricating custom splints. In 2009, she completed a hand therapy fellowship at the world-renowned Philadelphia Hand to Shoulder Center. Laura went on to successfully pass the hand therapy certification exam (CHT) in 2011 before opening her own hand therapy practice in Hawaii!

We are so excited to welcome Laura to our amazing team of physical therapists and occupational hand therapists!

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About Hand Therapy & Hand Therapists

Hand therapy focuses on the evaluation and treatment of orthopaedic conditions that affect the upper extremity. Our team of highly-trained certified hand therapists plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation of our patients with highly complex upper extremity injuries and conditions.

When patients suffer from conditions or injuries that impact their upper extremity, their doctor will often refer them to a hand therapist. Don't let the name confuse you - these rehabilitation professionals are capable of treating conditions and injuries to the entire upper extremity, including the hand, wrist, elbow, forearm, and shoulder.

Hands therapists begin their careers as physical therapists or occupational therapists before pursuing advanced certifications in the treatment of upper extremity issues. Many go through the extensive process to become Certified Hand Therapists (CHTs), the highest level of certification possible for the treatment of hand and upper extremity injuries and conditions. This certification requires a minimum of five years of clinical experience and 4,000 hours of treating upper extremity patients before becoming eligible.

The team of hand therapists at Arthritis & Sports can help guide you along your path to recovery. Just like our team of physical therapists, our hand therapists create custom treatment plans for each of our patients so that they can return to their active lives as quickly as possible. Whether you require a custom hand splint to immobilize as you heal, hands-on manual therapy to get your joints moving, or personalized exercises to restore your strength, our hand therapists are here to help! To schedule your first hand therapy sessions with our team, we invite you to call us at 703.433.2500 to schedule an appointment, or request an appointment online here.