On this episode we are joined by our first repeat guest, Jim Wagner. Jim is an occupational therapist and Certified Hand Therapist who also has a background in strength training and conditioning. He shares with us how to implement strength and conditioning in our hand therapy practices and why it’s important for our patients.    

Jim Wagner OTD, OTR/L, CHT, CPAM, CSCS

Dr. Wagner is an occupational therapist/Certified Hand Therapist with 28 years of clinical experience working in the upper extremity orthopedic setting. He received his post professional clinical doctorate from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions with a specialty in hand therapy. Dr. Wagner is credentialed in physical agent modalities and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. 

Jim is currently the team leader of the Guthrie Hand Center and is an adjunct professor at both Keuka and Ithaca College occupational therapy programs. Jim has been involved in competitive powerlifting/bodybuilding for 35 year and has been in 28 competitions. He has traveled extensively teaching on topics such as kinesiology taping, cupping, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobility, orthotic fabrication and blood flow restriction training. 

Jim is a member of the American Society of Hand Therapists. He has been published in the practice forum section of the Journal of Hand Therapy and serves on the Education Division of the ASHT.

Article Links:



Comparison of blood flow restriction devices and their effect on quadriceps muscle activation.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptsp.2021.02.005

Practical Blood Flow Restriction Training Increases Acute Determinants of Hypertrophy Without Increasing Indices of Muscle Damage.

https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Fulltext/2013/11000/Practical_Blood_Flow_Restriction_Training.20.aspx

Blood Flow Restriction Training: Implementation into Clinical Practice.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5609669/

Differences in the limb blood flow between two types of blood flow restriction cuffs: A pilot study. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.931270/full