Hand Therapy Week is an integrated national program established by ASHT. Throughout the week, members of the hand and upper extremity therapy community sponsor and organize events and celebrations in an effort to raise awareness among various audiences, highlight the benefits of the specialty and educate the public. Hand Therapy Week is held each year during the first full week of June (beginning on a Monday).
It's time to get ready for Hand Therapy Week 2026! Don't know where to start? Here are some creative ideas for celebrating the specialty.
ASHT Photo Contest
Send your hand- and upper extremity-related photos to ASHT@asht.org by May 28, 2026 for the chance to win prizes from ASHT and our Hand Therapy Week sponsor, Performance Health! Please include your name and brief description of the image.
Voting will take place during Hand Therapy Week (June 1-7). The top three winners will receive an ASHT gift card and a Jeni's Ice Cream Best Sellers Collection (6-Pint, dairy and non-dairy options available) via Performance Health.
This contest is open to ASHT members only. Multiple images may be submitted. Limit one prize per person. Submissions may be used in future marketing materials
Congratulations to the winners of last year's contest!
First place: Laurie Thurber, OT, CHT (“I’ve got the world in my hand”)
Second place: Chelsea Gonzalez, OTD, OTR/L, CHT ("Newest little hand therapist")
Third place: Randy Beckman, OTR/ CHT ("Sharing a moment with Ben Franklin")
View 2025 submissions
View 2024 submissions
View 2023 submissions
View 2022 submissions
View 2021 submissions
View 2020 submissions
View 2019 submissions
View 2018 submissions
Daily Challenges
ASHT has created new daily challenges to make it even easier for you to participate in Hand Therapy Week. Start planning now and get creative! Don't forget to tag ASHT in your posts and use #HTW2026, and we'll feature you on ASHT's social media channels!
Monday (6/1): Hands at Work — Snap a quick photo of your hands — or a colleague’s — while in action at work. This could be fabricating an orthosis, guiding an exercise or using a treatment tool. Share a behind-the-scenes look at hand therapy in motion.
Tuesday (6/2): Texture Tuesday — Capture a close-up image of a texture used in hand therapy, e.g. orthosis materials, therapy putty, sensory tools, etc. Invite your audience to guess what it is and highlight the role it plays in treatment.
Wednesday (6/3): On the Other Hand… — Use your dominant hand to write “Hand Therapy Week“ (print or cursive), then use your non-dominant hand to write it as similarly as possible. Snap a picture and tag us to share how close you can get!
Thursday (6/4): Therapist Crush Thursday — It’s time to show some love to the people who make hand therapy better. Is there someone who inspires you to think deeper, grow your skills or simply get through a tough clinic day? Give them a shoutout — tag a mentor, co-worker, student or friend, share a photo and/or tell us what makes them stand out, whether it’s their clinical expertise, creativity, mentorship or the energy they bring. Because the best part of hand therapy isn’t just what we do, it’s who we do it with.
Friday (6/5): From Scrap to Solution — Turn simple or leftover materials in your clinic/office (e.g., splint material, paperclips, highlighters, etc.) into a functional solution. Create something useful using scraps and share a photo or quick video of the finished product.
Have an idea for next year? Let us know!
Hand & Upper Extremity Safety and Injury Prevention Videos
ASHT continues to add to our safety and injury prevention series and is excited to release a new video all about rock climbing and returning to the sport following finger and pulley injuries.
Be sure to like our social media pages and subscribe to our YouTube channel to be the first to access the video once it premiers during Hand Therapy Week! We encourage you to share these videos and the others in our video library with your patients, colleagues and social media followers to promote the specialty.
ASHT Video Library
- Cell phones & texting
- Hand safety while gardening
- Protecting your hands while using portable electronics
- Hand & upper extremity conditions during pregnancy
- Hand & upper extremity mental health series
- Desk and workstation ergonomics
- Hand safety in the kitchen
- Pumpkin carving safety
- Safe snow removal
- Turkey carving safety
- Telehealth FAQs
- Virtual learning desk setup
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- CMC/thumb arthritis
- Tennis elbow
- Cyclist's palsy
AHTF Run/Walk
Participate in the Annual American Hand Therapy Foundation Virtual Run/Walk!
ASHT is proud to sponsor this event to support upper extremity research and education. Complete a 5K run/walk by the end of Hand Therapy Week to support AHTF's research and education grants.
Please join the official ASHT team and help us climb the leaderboard!
Resources
Marketing Resources
Choose from three flyers to use in your clinic as educational resources or distribute to your referral sources — all updated with ASHT's new look! The flyers for surgeons and primary care physicians provide space where you can add contact information for your practice via label, sticker, stamp, etc., and can be used all year round.
Flyer for Surgeons
Flyer for Primary Care Physicians
Generic Flyer
Patient Education Resources
Utilize our vast library of Patient Education Resources, which provide information on common diagnoses and the role a hand therapist plays in treatment. Based on member requests, we've begun releasing Spanish translations of our most popular resources.
Share Your Story
Hand therapy can change lives, and who better to share the importance and impact of hand therapy than our patients?
During Hand Therapy Week -- and throughout the year -- encourage your outstanding patients to submit a testimonial about the impact hand therapy had on their lives. Visit our Patient Testimonials page, and access the patient and therapist webforms at the bottom of the page to submit your success stories!
Note: You will be asked to upload documentation of your patient’s consent using this form. Your story may be featured on our website or in upcoming campaigns.
Get the Word Out
Write a Press Release
Create effective Hand Therapy Week buzz in your local media by sharing your personal success, patient accomplishments and news with the public through targeted media outreach. ASHT's Marketing Toolbook will help you develop a press release and strategically contact media to announce your organization's plans to celebrate Hand Therapy Week.
Learn more about contacting news outlets
Contact Your Local Government
Spread the word about hand therapy by writing a letter to your local Chamber of Commerce (sample) or requesting a state proclamation (sample).
Celebrate
About Our Sponsor: Performance Health
Performance Health has over 70 years of expertise as your trusted rehabilitation partner. As North America’s largest rehabilitation supplier, we proudly offer industry leading products, reliable operations & trusted expertise. With industry leading brands and services, we deliver solutions wherever care is needed. Together, we enable the journey of independence and performance.