Healthy Hands Week: June 8-12, 2009( Hand Therapy Awareness & Injury P...),Health

Hand Therapy Awareness & Injury Prevention Week Gets New Name, Retains Same Important Message

CHICAGO, April 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) is sponsoring Healthy Hands Week, June 8-12, an event designed to increase recognition of the benefits of hand therapy and the importance of hand injury prevention.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080606/NEF003LOGO )

Previously named Hand Therapy Awareness & Injury Prevention Week, this event is an opportunity for hand therapists and healthcare professionals to raise awareness of how hand therapy prevents and ameliorates disability due to hand injury or disease. The event is celebrated through community and local media outreach, promotional events at local clinics, partnerships with hand surgeons and hospitals, dissemination of information to patients and special recognition of hand therapists at clinics.

Physical or occupational therapists by trade, hand therapists achieve specialization through additional training and experience. Additionally, therapists can obtain Certified Hand Therapist (CHT) designation with a minimum of five years of clinical experience and by meeting necessary requirements.

"Hand health and injury prevention is crucial for individuals in all walks of life, especially in this digital age where many of us use hand operated electronic tools to perform so many tasks of work and daily life. The importance of work done by hand therapists cannot be understated," says ASHT President Joy MacDermid, BScPT, PhD. "As hand therapists we do more than treat injuries - we help people with hand problems resume health and meaningful activities. This new event name will help underscore the value of spec
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