Hand Therapy, MetaFlex® Gloves, and the Future of Rehabilitation With Justin Stehr

In this episode, Jeremy Rivera sits down with Justin Stehr, OT, a Certified Hand Therapist at Vanderbilt Health and Clinical Consultant for MetaFlex®. Justin shares his journey from business operations to working at Vanderbilt, and discusses innovative approaches to hand therapy, the mental health connection to chronic pain, and unexpected clinical applications of compression gloves.

Episode Highlights:

• The power of movement and understanding hand biomechanics
• Why we all have overly strong flexors (and what to do about it)
• How MetaFlex® gloves work differently from traditional bracing
• Unexpected applications: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, stroke recovery, and more
• The sleep-mental health-pain connection you're probably overlooking
• A remarkable Vanderbilt limb salvage case study
• Upcoming research presentations at ACRM and beyond

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About Justin Stehr

Justin Stehr, OT, CHT is a Certified Hand Therapist at Vanderbilt Health in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was recently named 2024 Acute Occupational Therapist of the Year. He holds a master's degree in occupational therapy with specialized focus on upper extremity rehabilitation, stroke recovery, and hand therapy.

Justin also holds certifications in:

• Wound care
• Ergonomics
• Hand therapy (CHT)

He currently serves as Clinical Consultant for MetaFlex®, where he educates healthcare professionals on innovative approaches to hand rehabilitation. Justin has presented research at national conferences including the American Congress of Rehabilitative Medicine (ACRM) and has upcoming presentations with the Canadian Percussion Network on the biomechanics of drumming.

Personal Background: Justin's path to hand therapy includes a unique personal connection—15 years ago, he experienced a severe hand injury requiring reconstruction of tendons, nerves, and arteries, giving him firsthand understanding of the rehabilitation journey.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Flexor-Extensor Imbalance

Quote: "We spend all day long, we grip everything. So we're constantly grabbing and pinching and then when we're ready to let go of that item or task, we just let go, we relax. We never forcefully open."

This creates an imbalance where our flexor muscles become overly strong while...