Ticketed Events
Elevate your conference experience by purchasing an event ticket. Tickets may be purchased at the time of registration. If you already registered, a link to add a ticket can be found on your registration confirmation or contact meetings@asht.org for assistance.
Pediatric Specialty Day | Wednesday, October 7 | 7:45 AM - 5:00 PM | 6.5 CE Hours
We invite you to join us on a journey beyond the fundamentals, delving into the intricacies of pediatric hand and upper extremity therapy. This specialized course promises an exploration of unique diagnoses, innovative treatments and the myriad triumphs and challenges inherent in the realm of pediatric hand therapy.
Pre-Conference Institutes | Thursday, October 8
- The Healing Bridge: Connecting Tissue Mechanics with Effective Orthotic Design | Cathy Borst, OTR/L, CHT, Elena Bolin, EdD, MS, OTR, CHT | 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM | 4 CE Hours | Tickets $205
This in-person, lab-intensive pre-conference course is designed for clinicians of all skill levels, from beginners to experienced practitioners seeking a refresher or advancement of their skills. Through a blend of focused lecture and guided laboratory practice, participants will develop and refine their orthotic fabrication techniques. Emphasis will be placed on the design and fabrication of static and static progressive orthoses to effectively address tissue restrictions and support functional outcomes. Participants will apply evidence-informed treatment principles for post-surgical and non-surgical conditions commonly encountered in both outpatient and inpatient settings.
- An Introduction to Casting Motion to Mobilize Stiffness (CMMS): What's CMMS All About? | Karol Spraggs-Young, OTD, OTR/L, CHT; Johanna Jacobson-Petrov, MHS, BSc.OT, CHT; Kantessa Stewart, OTR/L, CHT, Katie Pisano, OTR/L, CHT | 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM | 4 CE Hours | Tickets $205
CMMS is a treatment technique that was first introduced over twenty years ago as an intervention for the stiff hand. The CMMS treatment technique is now gaining popularity as an alternative to treating the stiff hand. This CMMS preconference presentation discusses the research and brain science which supports the role of the central nervous system in changing the maladaptive movement patterns that develop during hand immobilization and/or trauma. There will also be a casting lab that introduces participants to the principles of plaster casting to promote active redirection of motion in the stiff hand.
- Hands-On Anatomy: Cadaveric Dissection of the Hand and Wrist — From Structure to Surgical Reality | Greg Watchmaker, MD | 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM | 2 CE Hours | Tickets $120
This two-hour cadaveric dissection lab offers an immersive, hands-on exploration of hand and wrist anatomy with direct clinical relevance to hand therapy practice. Led by Dr. Watchmaker, participants will move beyond textbook illustrations to observe and interact with the actual structures they treat daily — tendons, nerves, pulleys, ligaments, and joints — in their true anatomical relationships. The session bridges surgical and therapeutic perspectives by demonstrating common operative procedures, including tendon repair, allowing therapists to deepen their understanding of what occurs in the operating room and how post-surgical anatomy informs rehabilitation decision-making. Whether you are a seasoned clinician seeking to sharpen your anatomical knowledge or an emerging hand therapist building your foundational understanding, this lab provides a rare and invaluable learning experience that cannot be replicated in the clinic or classroom.
- Threading the Needle: Evidence-Based Strategies for Integration of Dry Needling in Hand Therapy | Nathan Short, PhD, OTR/L, CHT, FAOTA, Donna Walls, OTD, OTR, CHT | 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM | 2 CE Hours | Tickets $120
Dry needling (DN) is becoming a widely-used intervention among rehabilitation practitioners to address underlying functional limitations among different patient populations. A recent systematic review found strong evidence to support the use of DN to decrease spasticity and improve range of motion (ROM), common underlying limitations encountered by hand therapists (Bynum et al., 2021). Additionally, DN has demonstrated effectiveness in treating common musculoskeletal conditions like lateral epicondylosis (tennis elbow) and intrinsic tightness of the hand (Uygur, AktaÅŸ, & Yilmazoglu, 2021; Short, Linder, & Stump, 2024; Short, Walls, Rutland, 2025). Although DN appears promising as a supportive technique to promote functional gains, it must be critically analyzed and thoughtfully integrated into the hand therapy specialty. This course will present dry needling techniques for the upper extremity and hand with an emphasis on safety, underling anatomy, and integration within a broader, function-based plan of care. Current evidence for DN will be presented along with specific case studies and demonstrations followed by a discussion of state practice act guidelines, coding/billing, and the certification process.
- Hands-On Anatomy: Cadaveric Dissection of the Upper Arm with Nerve Focus - From Structure to Surgical Reality | Jessica M Hanley, MD | 9:45 AM - 11:45 AM | 2 CE Hours | Tickets $120
This two-hour cadaveric dissection lab offers an immersive exploration of upper arm neuroanatomy with direct clinical relevance to hand therapy practice and nerve pathways. Led by Dr. Hanley, participants will move beyond textbook illustrations to observe and interact with the actual structures they treat daily in their true anatomical relationships. The session bridges surgical and therapeutic perspectives by demonstrating operative procedures related to nerve pathology allowing therapists to deepen their understanding of what occurs in the operating room and how post-surgical anatomy informs rehabilitation decision-making. Whether you are a seasoned clinician seeking to sharpen your anatomical knowledge or an emerging hand therapist building your foundational understanding, this lab provides a rare and invaluable learning experience that cannot be replicated in the clinic or classroom.
- Practical Tips for Hand Therapists to Start Innovating | Nicole Hoover, MS, OTR, CHT | 9:45 AM - 11:45 AM | 2 CE Hours | Tickets $120
This session will equip hand therapists with practical, accessible strategies to begin innovating within their daily clinical practice–regardless of resources, setting, or prior experience. Using real-world examples from hand therapy and rehabilitation, the presentation will demystify the innovation process by breaking it into concrete, repeatable steps rooted in quality-of-care principles. Attendees will learn how to identify meaningful clinical pain points, apply simple innovation and quality‑improvement frameworks (such as PDSA and basic design thinking), and use low‑cost tools–including AI, stakeholder interviews, and rapid prototyping–to develop solutions that enhance patient care, workflow efficiency, and interdisciplinary communication. We will include interactive activities that include problem-solving, rapid prototyping, and an opportunity to pitch their idea and gain valuable feedback to increase confidence.