Evidence Based Practice

If basic research design was used in the clinic, practice would already be substantiated.

THE PROBLEM
Changes in health care delivery and reimbursement have significantly impacted therapy professions. No longer can a technique or theory be supported only because it has become “traditional” or “endorsed to work” by experts with experience. Reimbursement is made for what has been “proven” to work. There is a danger here. Much of the traditional knowledge and skills of experienced therapists that are taken for granted are “at risk” of no longer being used as these are no longer reimbursed. When treatment is recognized only in predetermined billing categories, new and important information for improved practice may not be developed, or go unrecognized.

THE SOLUTION: EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE
In the time crunch of the modern clinic and demand for effective efficient treatment, some frivolous and ineffective treatment passed on by tradition can now be discarded as superfluous. But how does one recognize the good from the bad, and the most effective from less effective? The answer lies in documented study that substantiates practice, i.e. research. Who will do this research? There is never time, yet in the long run evidence based practice is critical to our clinical treatment and survival of treatment. Therapists need templates on how clinical research can done now, today, given the time constraints and demands of a busy practice.

Moving beyond the threats to professional practice from a changing healthcare environment can be uniting in effort – we can help each other to network on these skills.

Step 1

The first step is in revisiting the definition of “research”. Research is actually the “heart” of practice. What therapist in making orthoses does not keep a successful pattern and discard the unsuccessful ones? This problem solving in identification of effective treatment is the beginning of research. Every therapist has learned the need for problem solving in clinical treatment. Good therapists routinely use problem solving skills in clinical treatment of patients, adjusting treatment with the widely varying needs of individual patients.

Step 2

The second step is in learning the basic principles and tenets of research design and how these apply to the clinic. Some principle tenets such as “first do no harm” are already ingrained in practice and need only be acknowledged and integrated. But others, e.g. “It is often not as important what is done but that it is done consistently ” challenge the therapist’s incorporating research in the clinic. If only therapists would use basic research design in consistent documentation, comparison, and analysis of measurements, practice and patient outcome would be fully substantiated.

Step 3

The third step is for therapists to bring the need for research into their perceptual world and support the concept as an objective in the clinic. Practicing therapists are much more in number than university and outside researchers, and are in better position to understand the needs for patient treatment validation, and directions for research. Degree programs have become so competitive that they are accepting only students with the highest academic credentials – the potential is there. Some university programs have recognized the need for research skill development at an undergraduate level. Why not take full advantage of our collective talents and skills to address the need for substantiation of practice, documentation of patient outcome, and redesign research so it fits and is at home in the clinic?

Click Below for Past Awardee Lists

Grants

BURKHALTER New Investigator grant

Year	Burkhalter Grant
2025	Principal Investigator (PI): Jennifer Dodson, OTD, OTR/L, CHT. Co-Investigators: R. Glenn Gaston, MD, Bryan J. Loeffler, MD, Christopher J. Dy, MD, MPH, Calvin Chandler, MD, MBA, Ryan Serbin, Andrew Rees & Amy McQueen "Development and Validation of a Novel Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Brachial Plexus Injuries"
2024	Nicole Hoover, MS, OTR, CHT for her research project entitled “Prevalence of Observed Thumb Metacarpophalangeal (MP) Collapse by Occupational and Physical Therapists: A Pilot Study.”
2023	Emily S. Ho, PhD, Med, OTReg (Ont), Lexi Davidson, BSc, MSc(c); Christine Novak, PhD, PT; & Samantha Anthony, PhD. Shouldering the Burdens of Adulthood — "An Exploratory Study on the Predictors of Lifelong Participation in Adults with Upper Limb Conditions"
2022	Christine Mulligan, OTD, CHT, Celeste Freeman, OTR/L, CHT, and Giovanna Fichera, OTD student — "Implementing a Novel Splinting Technique Using 3D models for Patients with Scleroderma and Arthritis"
2020	Emily S. Ho, PhD, Med, OTReg (Ont) - "Musculoskeletal Characteristics of Elbow Flexion Contractures in Infants and Children with Brachial Plexus Birth Injury"
2019	Brocha Stern, OTR, MOT, CHT – “Self-Management in Adults after Distal Radius Fracture: A Mixed Methods Exploration”.
2016	Joseph Day, PhD, MS, PT, B.S Project entitled: “The Effect of Scapular Muscle Strengthening on Functional Recovery in Patients with Lateral Epicondylalgia” Awarded by AHTF Board approval:
2015	Kim McVeigh, Stephanie Kannas, Cindy Ivy, Peter Murray. The Efficacy of Dynamic Stabilization of the First CMC: A Prospective Randomized Study.
2009	Corey Weston McGee OTR, CHT, PhD student, University of Minnesota Twin Cites. Required hand grip forces for successful manual task performance. Fund with conditions
2008	Erika Lewis EdD, MSPT, CHT Trigger finger treatment; an outcomes study.
2008	Marcio Jose dos Santos PhD, PT Modulation of grip force in individuals with osteoarthritis of the hands.
2006	Rebecca L. Von Der Heyde, PhD, OTR/L, CHT The effects of shared decision making on patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.
2002	Gail Groth OT Survey of Flexor Tendon Rehabilitation Practice Areas.
2001	Ayse Ozcan PhD, PT The age related sensorial changes in healthy subjects. ayse.edeer@dc.edu
2000	Orit Shechtman PhD, OT Using the torque-velocity test of the BTE-Primus to measure sincerity of effort of grip strength.
1999	Carla Cleary MPT, CHT & Kathy Sanders PT A comparison of potassium iodine and saline iontophoresis on scar pliability.
1998	Janet Poole PhD, OT Short term outcome following basal joint arthroplasty and occupational therapy, a pilot study
1996	Jennifer Wuori PhD The effects of bracing on grip strength and pain levels in lateral epicondyle
1994	Cathy Mishek O-Brien OT Health and comfort of the VDT workstations.
1992	Siaw Chui Chai, Ph.D Candidate. Hand Discomfort and Hand Function Status among Piano Students; University of New York; dept OT and Collega of Occupational Therapy, Malaisa

Judy Bell-Krotoski "Grab the Evidence"

Year	Grab the Evidence Grant (created 2002)
2023	Sarah Doerrer, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, CLT, for "The Impact of Early ADL participation on Functional Outcomes Post Distal Radius Fracture"
2022	Tara Packham, OTReg(Ont.), PhD, for "Reliability and Validity of Somatosensory Measurement Techniques: A Proof-of-Principle Measurement Study of Novel Tools to Evaluate Altered Sensation"
2019	Sandy C. Takata, OTR/L, OTD, for “Informing a Precision Medicine Approach to Post-Surgical Flexor Tendon Rehabilitation using Sonography.”
2016	Corey McGee, PhD, MS, OTR/L, CHT and Ann Van Heest, MD Graded Motor Imagery for Women at Risk for Developing Type I CRPS following Closed Treatment of Distal Radius Fractures: A Pilot Randomized Comparative Effectiveness Trial.
2011	Sharon Flinn, OTR, PhD Overuse injuries in the unaffected limbs of persons with hand amputations. Ohio State Uiversity. Columbus, Ohio. sharon.flinn@osumc.edu
2008	Raviniran Appuni BSPT, CHT Optimizing therapy dosage and use of hydrotherapy following rotator cuff repair; randomized, factorial study.
2002	Caroline Jansen PhD, PT Symptom-focused Severity of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
1992	Aviva Wolff, OTR, EdD, CHT Planning and execution of grasp in children with hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. Hospital for Special Surgery, New York

Tri-Alliance Grant Honoring ASHT Founders

2025	Principal Investigator: Saurabh Mehta, PT, PhD, GCS Co-Investigators: Christos Karagiannopoulos, PT, PhD, CHT Ann Lucado, PT, PhD, CHT, Mia Erickson, PT, EdD, CHT, Kimberly Masker, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, Shehenaz Shaik, PhD & Hannah Chatterton, BS. "Feasibility and Acceptability of Implementing Clinical Practice Guidelines using a Smartphone App: A Randomized Trial"
2024	Holly Flanagan, BS, MSOT, OTRL, CL.
2019	Aviva Wolff, EdD, OT, CHT, for her project entitled “Effects of an Education and Prevention Program on Reducing Upper Extremity Injury in Musicians.”
2016	Neha Dewan PT, PhD Candidate and Joy MacDermid, PT, PhD. “Home safety leading to bone safety: Validation and feasibility testing for using GoPro video- technology to assess home fall risk in women following distal radius fracture”.
	Folarin Babatunde PT, PhD Candidate, also McMaster University, mentored by Joy MacDermid, for the project “Physiotherapist-delivered internet-based behavior change intervention (i-bci) for managing psychosocial problems after a distal radius fracture: a pilot and feasibility study.”
2015	Karen Harpster, OT. Co-PI: Jenny Dorich. OT Improving hand function using a McKie thumb splint or kinesiology tape for thumb‐in‐palm deformity in children with cerebral palsy: A pilot study.
2014	Shawn C. Roll, PhD, OTR/L, , CWCE, RMSK, PI, David Black, PhD, Janice D. Rocker, MS, OTR/L, CHT, Aimee Aguillon, OTR/L, CHT: “Effects of Mind-Body Interventions on Stress, Anxiety, and Pain in Hand Therapy Patients
2013	Sam Leitkam, MS (PhD Candidate), Tamara Reid Bush, MS, PhD and Jeanine Beasley, EdD, OTR, CHT, FAOTA: Concurrent Validity of Goniometric and 3D Motion Ann M Lucado, PT, PhD, CHT Scapular Muscle Strength and Activity in Recreational Tennis Players with Lateral Epicondylalgia.Capture Measurements of the Hand and their Effects on a Model of Finger Functionality for Clinical Assessment.

Joint AFSH and AHTF Collaborative Research Grant

Year	Title	PIs
2025	Assessing Thumb Stability During Key Pinch: A Pilot Study of a Novel Test	Nicole Hoover, MS, OTR, CHT, and Jessica Hanley, MD.
2024	At-Home VR for Phantom Limb Pain: Optimizing Targeted Brain Rehabilitation Therapy	R. Glenn Gaston, MD, Marcie Siebert, OTR/L, CHT
2023	Physical and Mental Health Service Delivery in Pediatric Hand Surgery and Therapy	Emily S. Ho, BScOT, MEd, PhD, OT Reg. (Ont.), Kristen M. Davidge, MD, MSc, FRCSC
2022	Evaluation of Patient & Family Treatment Goals for Children with Brachial Plexus Birth Injury	Jenny Dorich, PhD, MBA, OTR/L, CHT, Roger Cornwall, MD
2021	Standardizing Thumb Arthritis Therapy (START)	Kenneth Means, Jr., MD, Caitlin Murphy, OT, CHT, Aviram Giladi, MS, MD
2014	The First Dorsal Interosseous: A Dynamic Stabilizer Of The Radially Subluxed Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint?	Corey McGee, PhD, CHT, Virginia O'Brien, OT, CHT, Sara Van Nortwick, MD, Julie Adams, MD, Ann Van Heest, MD

AOTF-ASHT-AHTF Hand in Hand

Year	Title	Pls
2025	Mas Fuerte (Stronger): Exploring the Role of Spanish-Language Video Education in Distal Radius Fracture Recovery	Sarah Doerrer, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, CLT, and mentor Roger Ideishi, JD, OT/L, FAOTA (GWU)

Scholarships

Janet Albrecht Memorial Scholarship

Year	Janet Albrecht Memorial Scholarship (created 2019)
2025	Victoria Delgado, OT
2024	Holly Flanagan, BS, MSOT, OTRL, CL.
2023	Rebecca J. Zorn, MS, OTR/L
2022	Andrew Naylor, OTR/L
2019	Danielle Stairs, MS, OTR/L – preparation to sit Hand Therapy Certification Examination.

EVELYN MACKIN TRAVEL SCHOLARSHIP FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

Year	Mackin Travel Grant (created 2005)
2024	Aviva Wolff, EdD, OT, CHT. "Healing Hands: Advanced Upper Extremity Rehabilitation Training in War-Torn Areas.”"
2023	Nathan Short, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, for "Equipping Ukrainian Therapists in Upper Extremity and Hand Rehabilitation"
2013	Jane Fedorczyk, PT, PhD, CHT, ATC, Guatamala; Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Drexel University.
2011	Jennifer Frydle OTR/LCHT. Education exchange in Peru. Oregon Health and Science University. Portland Oregon.
2009	Elizabeth Mayland MS, OTR, CHT-Loyola University Medical Ctr. Tendon transfers for tetraplegia. Fund with conditions
2009	Gail Groth OTR, CHT, PhD student, University of Wisconsin Madison. Heighten awareness of international hand therapy practice, flexor tendon rehabilitation. Fund with conditions.
2007	Susan Blackmore, MS, OTR/L, CHT Surgicorps Trip to Equador, South America
2005	Debby Schwartz, OTR, CHT Hands Across the Water, A trip to Norway and London.

AHTF Orthotics Educational Scholarship

Year	Scholarship
2025	Linda Parocua and Kyla Salisbury
2024	Anna Gray, PT.
2023	Maya N. Bell, M.Ed.,OTD,OTR/L. Lieutenant Commander, US Navy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Mary Kasch Scholarship

Year	Scholarship
2025	Michelle Hauprich, OTR/L
2024	Elizabeth Levens
2023	Oliver Dela Rosa
2022	Tarannum Siddiqui
2021	Amber Opitz
2020	Katherine Siwy
2019	Ashley Coudron DeCo
2018	Chavi Perelman
2017	Sarah DiDomenico Ogburn
2016	Brocha Stern
2015	Marti Simpson
2014	Julie To
2013	Karen Heap

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GRANTS

Supporting novice or experienced researchers who are able to expand the scientific evidence, visibility, and quality of upper extremity and hand rehabilitation.

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DONATIONS

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