Dominique THOMAS, RPT, Orthotist. MA. is a physiotherapist both registered in France and In California, USA. He graduated in 1970 from the Grenoble university school of Physical therapy. He worked in Norway, California and Slovenia. He specialized in Hand Therapy since 1978. He is one of the pioneer of Hand Therapy in Europe, a founding member of the French Hand Therapy Society, the International Federation of societies of Hand Therapy and the European federation of societies of Hand Therapy.

He published many articles and books chapters in French, English and Italian. He innovated in the field of hand therapy, to name a few : development of the application of Neuromuscular electrical stimulation in hand rehabilitation, he discovered never described before motor points, developed protocol of protected mobilization after extensor tendon repairs in zones VII-VIII, set new concepts in Hand splinting, metal frame splinting, total flexion splinting, extensor tendon mobilization splints, radial palsy splinting, elbow extension , flexion and prono-supination splinting. He developed apparatus to coil piano wire for metal frame splinting. These are some of the most known contributions of Dominique THOMAS. He created and ran a successful Hand clinic in 1980.

 

He contributed to the development of Hand therapy and formation of Hand Therapists in Europe, specially France and Italy but also in England, United States, Australia, Tchek republic, Poland, Romania, Mongolia, Congo Kinshasa, India. Cameroun. This list is not exhaustive.

 

Mr. THOMAS was responsible for the formation of Italian Hand Therapists in courses organized by Pr. Brunelli in 1988-1989 and from 1989 to 2000, he was responsible for the rehabilitation and splinting part of "Corso propedeutico di chirurgia e riabilitazzione della mano" a full week course organized annually by Pr. Mantero's team in Savona, Italy . Several hundred of Therapists and surgeons attended his theoretical and practical hands on lectures.

 

In France Mr. THOMAS is at the origin of the "Diplome interuniversitaire de rééducation et d'appareillage en chirurgie de la main" This European interuniversity degree was created in 1995 to teach physical, occupational therapists and physiatrists the specialty of hand therapy. This course is formally organized by the Grenoble medical university and the hand surgery department of the Grenoble university hospital ran by professor Moutet.

Formation lasts two years. There are 200 hours of theoretical lectures on hand surgery and theoretical and practical-hands on- lectures on hand therapy, including ortheses. The number of student is limited to 40 per promotion every two years. Lectures on surgery are taught by Professor Moutet and his team, lectures on hand therapy and splinting are taught by senior active members of the French Hand therapy society.

To emphasize the practical aspect of hand therapy, students must spend a minimum of two days in eight different hand centers, six mandatory centers in France and two in Europe or in any renown hand center anywhere in the world.

This diploma is so popular that besides French speaking delegates, PTs and OTs from Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Romania and Egypt followed the cursus since 1997. There is a waiting list to register.

As part of the final exam a thesis must be presented. Most are of great quality and have been published in French or international journals or presented in Meetings. These theses can be read on the site : gemmsor.com

to this day 160 delegates have graduated.

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CV

 

 

Dominique THOMAS

1, boulevard Clémenceau

38100 GRENOBLE                                                                      

( : (+33) 4 76 44 22 35

6 :  (+33) 4 76 03 28 03                                  

                                 

 

 

SKILLS

 

Hand and upper extremity rehabilitation, particularly :

< >TraumatologyDupuytren’s disease< >Peripheral NeurologyTendon lesionsBone and joint injuries Neuromuscular electrical stimulationP.N.F Method. (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation)Splinting : theory and fabricationPROFESIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Since 1980 :    Creation and management of a private clinic specialized in hand and upper extremity rehabilitation

Since 1977 :    teacher at Grenoble university school of physical therapy

1976-1979 :     General practitioner in physical therapy, Clinique Belledonne, Grenoble

1975-1976 :     Physical therapist in the department Hemiplegia, functional electrical stimulation

                        Zavod Za Rehabilitacijo invalidov, Ljubljana, Slovenia

1973-1974 :     Physical therapist in the department Hemiplegia, functional electrical stimulation

                        Rancho Los Amigos Hospital, Los Angeles, Californie

1972-1973 :     Physical therapist P.N.F. , method

                        Kaiser foundation rehabilitation center, Vallejo, Californie

1971-1972 :     Physical therapist, orthopedics, traumatology,

                        Centre de rééducation d’Angeville, Hauteville Lompnès

1970-1971 :     Physical therapist  sport,traumatology

                        Kaspersens fysikalsk institutt, Oslo, Norvège

 

 

 

DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATIONS

 

 

1999 :  Diplôme d’orthésiste (Association Française pour l’Enseignement de l’Orthopédie, Paris)

1997 :  Diplôme inter-universitaire de rééducation et d’appareillage en chirurgie de la main

            (Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble)

1976 :  Certification in fonctional electrical stimulation (Zavod Za Rehabilitacijo invalidov,

             Ljubljana, Slovénie)

1975 :  Diploma of moniteur cadre kinésithérapeute (Université de Montpellier)

1974 :  Diploma de « registered physical therapist » State of  Californa (Los Angeles)

1973 :  Certificate in P.N.F. (Kaiser foundation, Vallejo, Californie)

1970 :  Diploma of Physical therapist (Grenoble University school of Physical therapy)

 

PROFESIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

French Society of hand therapists (past president and founding member)

American society of hand therapists

Founding menber IFSHT EFSHT

Past French delegate to the International association of societies of hand therapists

 

 

 

 

TITLES AND PUBLICATIONS

 

More than one hundred presentations and publications in national and international meetings and scientific publications

Coauthor of ten books on hand rehabilitation

 

 

 

 

EXTRA-PROFESIONAL ACTIVITES AND LANGUAGES

 

Mountaineering Guide, Ecole nationale de ski et d’alpinisme, Chamonix, France (1972)

Fluent in English, Italian, Spanish

Notions of Norwegian, German, Slovene