As OT’s, we are all familiar with the thought-provoking quote from Mary Reilly’s 1961 Eleanor Clarke Slagle lecture,
“Man, through the use of his hands, as they are energized by mind and will, can influence the state of his own health."
In one sentence, Mary Reilly so eloquently captures the very essence of occupational therapy and what we innately feel in our heart that draws us to this profession. Certainly a timeless reminder of OT's vital role in this era of preventive care and healthy aging, as well as the disruption to health and participation a person may experience when loss of hand function limits their ability to engage in meaningful daily occupations.
The American Society of Hand Therapists™ has established June 2 - 8, 2014 as Hand Therapy Week to promote awareness of this important specialty practice area. Their website provides some great resources such as flyers to distribute, example press releases and ideas for ways to celebrate.
Hand Therapy Week is also a perfect time to highlight the courses in our library that focus on the hand and upper extremity! We are very fortunate to have courses from leading instructors and clinical experts Rebecca von der Heyde, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, Jeanine Beasley, EdD, OTR, CHT, FAOTA and Marie Pace, MHS, OTR/L, CHT. These courses are excellent resources for evidence-based intervention strategies for a variety of hand and upper extremity conditions that occupational therapists frequently encounter.
Whether you have specialized in hand therapy or occasionally work with clients with upper extremity dysfunction, I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to increase awareness of OT and hand therapy. Also, here is a link to all (50+) of our hand and upper extremity courses to keep you up to date on the latest practice trends.
Cheers,
