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Complex made simple.
Clinically relevant education & products by Judy C. Colditz, OT/L, CHT, FAOTA
HandLab News
January 2012-Columbia, South Carolina
Speaker at the South Carolina Chapter of ASHT
Spending the day with my colleagues in South Carolina was a great way to begin 2012, talking about the thumb. This teaching session gave me an opportunity to use HandLab’s new document camera, allowing live examination of a few therapist’s symptomatic thumbs with the audience seeing the enlarged video image on the screen. We are excited about the expanded opportunities this camera provides for HandLab teaching.
December 2011
HandLab Joins "Hands" with Ton Schreuders to Educate in Thailand
This week HandLab received an email update from our colleague, Ton Schreuders in the Netherlands about his recent teaching trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand. In December 2011, Ton presented a 3-day conference on hand rehabilitation with approximately 70 PTs from all over Thailand in attendance. He reported the PTs are eager to learn "what this hand therapy is all about." Ton taught on the subjects of tendon rehabilitation, nerve repair, mirror therapy, fracture rehabilitation and clinical assessment. One afternoon he worked with students making splints and studying a young boy with an ulnar nerve lesion. To make the conference more exciting, Ton used anatomical posters donated by HandLab as prizes for students who answered questions correctly. Having previously lived and worked in Chiang Mai, Ton organized this trip with the support of the Dutch Hand Therapy Society and others to reinvigorate hand therapy practice in Thailand. Well done Ton!
November 28, 2011
HandLab Support Team Expands
Laurie Barbacci Hicks is the newest member of our support team who comes to us with 8 years of experience in the sales and training departments of Red Hat, an open source software company. Laurie is fluent in Spanish and the mother of an adorable 9 month old son. Welcome Laurie!
November 12 – 13, 2011
Judy Colditz teaches course in London
Thirty therapists from across the United Kingdom attended The Thumb: A Fresh Grasp of Comprehension at St George's Hospital in Tooting (London). The course was organized and sponsored by the hand therapy department at St George's, with Joelle Chalmer leading the organization.
Those who are not hand therapists marvel at spending two days on the thumb but with thumb CMC osteoarthritis being a common problem, most therapists appreciate the focus to improve their analysis of the pathomechanics present in the thumb with OA. After evaluating attending therapists with thumb pain, the final afternoon was spent constructing a variety of low temperature splints for the thumb. Photo on right is the hand therapy staff of St. George's hospital with Judy Colditz.
November 2011
Judy Colditz visits Orfit Industries in Wijnegem, Belgium
Orfit Industries develops and produces low temperature thermoplastic materials used in physical rehabilitation and radiation oncology. Their commitment to quality control in production and their dedication to research and development to support future needs in rehabilitation are impressive, as is the array of thermoplastics they produce. Pictured L to R :Steven Cuypers, Presiden & CEO of Orfit Industries, Judy Colditz, and Marc Blij, Physical Rehabilitation & Orthotics/Prosthetics Product Specialist
September 2011
Release of Digital Dynamics: The Moving Finger
The second in our series of HandLab’s self-study DVD/CD modules on Digital Dynamics has been released: Digital Dynamics: The Moving Finger which concentrates on the complex kinesiology of normal finger movement. This DVD/CD module simply and clearly explains the multifaceted aspects of finger movement. If you think you know this information, perhaps you want to look again!!
September 22-25, 2011
HandLab introduces the Push® MetaGrip®
ASHT Annual Meeting
Nashville, Tennessee
How exciting to introduce a product that therapists are eager to use for both themselves and their patients who have thumb CMC osteoarthritis!
Judy Colditz served as a design consultant to Nea International, bv/Push Braces, a company in the Netherlands who designs and manufactures orthopaedic braces and supports so HandLab has the privilege to be the first in the US to make the MetaGrip® available. Robin Hooghiemstra, the International Account Manager for the company, joined us in Nashville for this exciting event at the HandLab booth.
May 2011
Attendance at the EFSHT Meeting in Oslo, Norway
What an exciting experience to attend the European Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (EFSHT) in Oslo on the occasion of the first award of ”European Certified Hand Therapist (ECHT).” Photo shows Angela Harth of Germany (L), chair of the EFSHT education committee, Melanie Eissens from the Netherlands (center), one of the first recipients of the ECHT, and me as I congratulate them both. Developing a way of credentialing hand therapists throughout Europe who speak different languages and work in different health care systems is a major accomplishment by EFSHT. Congratulations!!
As I said to someone at the meeting, I wish I was years younger because it is such an exciting time to be a therapist. We are only now beginning to learn how we can influence the brain with such approaches as mirror therapy, graded motor imagery, and initiation of precise proprioceptive muscle control of a joint. The future holds such exciting possibilities of discovery for hand therapists.
May 2011
Teaching a Splinting Course in São Paulo, Brazil and
Speaker at the SBTM Meeting in Sauipe, Brazil
A therapist said to me that my splinting course in São Paulo was teaching about ”the importance of the small things.” I was thrilled with that description because it aptly describes my approach to teaching: focus on the detail and accuracy of what we do and be sure it is based on a clear understanding of anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics.
It was exciting to see such a vibrant and active society in Brazil and meet many therapists who are obtaining advanced degrees in the area of hand therapy…and being at a lovely coastal resort was also pleasant!! I was touched by the warm hospitality and generous welcome by the president of the SBTM Society: Profa. Dra. Valéria Meirelles Carril Elui and by the current treasurer: Maria Cândida de Miranda Luzo.
March 2011- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia Hand Meeting
It is always a pleasure to be part of the faculty for this exciting meeting which provides a cornucopia of information about hand therapy. With morning lectures and smaller break-out sessions in the afternoon, there is opportunity for both didactic and hands-on learning. If you have not been, you should attend one year: http://www.handfoundation.org/conferences.asp.
February 2011 - Malmö, Sweden
Guest lecturer at the Post Graduate Hand Therapy Program at Lund University
This is the second time I have been part of this post graduate special study. The therapist students meet four times during the year at Lund University for lectures from an international faculty and have independent study between the lecture times. Lund University describes this course as a “focus on hand rehabilitation as an inter-professional subject area, and current research and development within the field, in an evidence-based perspective.” For more information: http://www.education.lu.se/o.o.i.s/22395. In the photo the students are applying HandLab’s Dorsal Apparatus Temporary Tattoo during my lecture on anatomy and biomechanics of the finger.
January 2011 - Journal of Hand Therapy
Publication of IFSHT Presidential Address
I was excited to see my presidential address from the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy Triennial Congress in Orlando (June 2010) published in the [American] Journal of Hand Therapy. It was thrilling to have Evelyn Mackin in the audience during my tribute to her and to have a large lecture hall of therapists exchanging contact information during the lecture!
December 2010 - Paris, France
Keynote Speaker at the French Society of Hand Therapists
What a wonderful time in snowy Paris!! As an honorary member of the French Society since 1994, I am always pleased to visit my French colleagues at their annual GEMMSOR meeting. Here I am with Frédéric-Degez and Catherine-Laffargue of the French society as we are entering the restaurant on a snowy evening.
October 2010- Vancouver, BC
Teaching a course for the West Coast Hand Therapy Association
Although I currently only teach HandLab courses here in Raleigh, NC, I occasionally agree to teach a HandLab course in another country. The West Coast Hand Therapy Association hosted our HandLab course Innovative Solutions for Digital Dilemmas for about 35 therapists from the Vancouver area. Great questions and discussions were a hallmark of this knowledgeable group.
June 2010 - Orlando, Florida
8th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT)
This congress was a big event for me as it was the climax of my three years as president of IFSHT (www.ifsht.org). I was elated that more than 410 therapists from 35 different countries came together in Orlando to share clinical information and celebrate new friendships. 
Becoming a past-president allowed me to join all previous presidents for this group photograph. The highlight for many was our Rodeo Night gala where many enjoyed the line dancing. A commerative poster honoring Evelyn Mackin called “Pass it On” was comissioned by HandLab and remains available for purchase with the profits going to IFSHT.
This meeting was also the first time HandLab had a booth at a meeting!
June 2010 - Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Keynote Speaker at the 20th Anniversary Meeting of the Dutch Society of Hand Therapists
I was honored to be the keynote speaker at the 20th anniversary meeting where I saw many good friends. One of the most enjoyable presentations was Gwendolyn van Strien’s presentation on the history of hand therapy. Has it really been that many years ago that we all started this speciality?
May 2010 – Raleigh, NC
Release of HandLab’s first anatomical posters and PollexBox
We are excited to introduce…
Two exquisite anatomical posters from HandLab’s Digital Dynamics DVD/CD Series that are suitable for framing:
A new device to measure thumb abduction: The PollexBox™
April 2010- Raleigh, NC
Release of Digital Dynamics: Anatomical Odyssey through the Finger
I am thrilled to announce the release of HandLab’s self-study DVD/CD module: Digital Dynamics: Anatomical Odyssey through the Finger which concentrates on the anatomy of the finger with a focus on the dorsal apparatus and the intrinsic muscles. This is the culmination of years of study and clinical practice which I hope helps many hand therapists to understand the complexity of the finger and how it moves.