PT/OT Services

Physical & Occupational Therapy Services

Louisiana Orthopedic Specialists hosts an in-house rehabilitation department, offering occupational and physical therapy services. Our physical and occupational therapists help to reduce pain and improve movement by providing services for musculoskeletal disorders as well as pre and post-operative rehabilitation. We are unique in that we emphasize a team approach, where physicians and therapists can confer regarding patient care plans and address issues quickly when they arise. Therapy can help avoid surgery, reduce the need for long-term use of prescription medications, and strengthen necessary areas of the body to help assist with an easier recovery after surgery.

We believe the patient is an active participant in the rehabilitation process as their therapist addresses both the physical and psychosocial factors that stand between the patient and their functional goals.

Our treatments are evidence-based and focus on hands-on techniques, exercise prescription, orthotic fabrication, and pain education without much emphasis on the newest gadget or pain-relieving gimmick. The overarching goal for our patients is to maximize functional movement, decrease reliance on therapy, and increase independence with self-management to carry them long after therapy discharge.

Our Physical and Occupational Therapy teams have received specialized training in areas of:

Certified Hand Therapy
McKenzie Mechanical Diagnosis
Foot Orthotic Fitting
Orthoses Fabrication for shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand
Dry Needling
Blood Flow Restriction Therapy
Manual Therapy Specific Training
Balance Specific Training

Contact Us

For the best in conservative pre- and post-operative orthopedic care, choose Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists!

Lindsey Champagne, DPT

337-889-3106

Physical Therapists

Lindsey Champagne, PT, DPT

Lindsey is the Director of Rehabilitation at Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists. She has been with LOS since 2013. She is recognized as a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy, OCS, and is also dry needling certified.

Tim Daigle, PT, DPT

Tim has been a physical therapist with Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists since 2012. He has specialized training in the McKenzie Method, is certified in mechanical diagnosis and treatment, and is also dry needling certified.

Matt Ulm, PT, DPT

Matt has been a physical therapist with Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists since 2015. He is certified in dry needling. He has achieved golf-specific certification through the Titleist performance institute.

Kaitlin Guillory, PT, DPT

Kaitlin has been a physical therapist with Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists since 2018. She is a certified clinical instructor. She is recognized as a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy, OCS, and is also dry needling certified.

Chris West, PT, DPT

Chris West is the Education Coordinator for Physical Therapy and has been with Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists since 2020. He has earned the honored distinction of Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. He is certified in orthopedic manual therapy, COMT and dry needling.

Craig Caldwell, PT, DPT

Craig has been a physical therapist since 2013. He has obtained specializations in manual manipulative therapy as well as dry needling.

Nicholas LaHaye, PT, DPT

Nicholas has been a physical therapist with Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists since 2023.

Grant LeBlanc, PT, DPT

Grant has been a physical therapist with Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists since 2023.

Jenna Chagnard, PT, DPT

Jenna has been a Physical Therapist with Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists since 2024 and is certified in dry needling.

Hand Therapy

What is Hand Therapy

American Society of Hand Therapist Definition of Hand Therapy:

“Hand therapy is the art and science of rehabilitation of the upper extremity of the human body. Hand therapists are occupational therapists or physical therapists who, through extra training and experience, have specialized knowledge of upper extremity function. Using specialized skills in assessment and treatment, hand therapists work with their clients to prevent injury or impairment, restore functional activity, and enhance participation in daily life.” *

*Adapted from the Hand Therapy Certification Commission

What is a Certified Hand Therapist?

A Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) is an Occupational therapist or Physical therapist who, through advanced study and experience, specializes in treating individuals with conditions affecting the hands and upper extremity. The CHT designation is conferred after the requirements of a minimum of 5 years practice as a therapist, 2000+ hours of direct hand therapy work, and satisfactory score on the certification exam. Certification is maintained through meeting specific continuing education requirements and continued satisfactory work experience.

What does a Hand Therapist provide?

A qualified hand therapist can evaluate and treat any problem relative to the upper extremities. The hand therapist can effectively treat and rehabilitate the patient through postoperative rehabilitation, preventative, non-operative, conservative treatment, or industry consultation. The therapist works closely with physician and patient to provide a continuum of care. This often starts within days of the injury or surgery right through to the patient’s return to work and/or a productive lifestyle.

Postoperative Rehabilitation

Management of open or sutured wounds (prevention of infection and assistance in healing)
Control of hypertrophic (raised and/or swollen) or hypersensitive scars
Reduction of swelling
Protective custom splinting
Restoration of motion and strength

Who is a candidate for hand therapy?

Patients with the following conditions may benefit from hand therapy:

Acute or Chronic pain conditions
Patients affected by an accident or trauma
Loss of motion, strength, and/or functional use
Scars, burns, and injured nerves
Fractures
Amputations of fingers, hands, or arms
Patients suffering from conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow
Arthritis
Neurological conditions (stroke)

Preventative, Non-operative, or Conservative Treatment

Management of acute or chronic pain
Desensitization following nerve injury or trauma
Sensory re-education after nerve injury
Design and implementation of exercise programs to increase motion, dexterity and/or strength
Splint fabrication for prevention or correction of injury
Training in the performance of daily life skills through adapted methods and equipment
Conditioning prior to returning to work

Occupational Therapists

Andrea Fontenot, LOTR, CHT

Andrea Fontenot, LOTR, has been an occupational therapist with Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists since 2012. She has achieved the designation of certified hand therapist, CHT.

Amie Medeiros, LOTR, CHT

Amie Medeiros, LOTR, has been an occupational therapist with Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists since 2016. She has been an occupational therapist for 16 years and has achieved the designation of certified hand therapist, CHT.

Jessica Matherne, LOTR, CHT

Jessica Matherne, LOTR, CHT, has been an occupational therapist with Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists since 2018. She has achieved the designation of certified hand therapist, CHT.

Leah McDonald McLean, LOTR

Leah McDonald McLean, LOTR, has been an occupational therapist with Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists since 2020.

Aimee Shwery, LOTR, CHT

Aimee Shwery, LOTR, CHT, works part-time with Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists and has been an occupational therapist since 2018. She has achieved the designation of certified hand therapist, CHT.

Wendy McGehee, LOTR

Wendy McGehee, LOTR, works part-time with Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists. Wendy has been practicing as an occupational therapist since 2005.

Scott Hidalgo, LOTR, CHT

Scott Hidalgo, LOTR, graduated in Occupational Therapy in 1996 and spent most of his career working in outpatient therapy in Opelousas. Scott joined the Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists team in 2021 and has achieved the designation of certified hand therapist, CHT.

Lauren Day, LOTR, CHT

Lauren Day, LOTR, started her career in outpatient orthopedics in Opelousas after graduating as an Occupational Therapist in 2018. Lauren joined the Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists team in 2021 and has achieved the designation of certified hand therapist, CHT.