Are you a practicing therapist but have little experience in making hand splints? Does splinting feel intimidating? This course provides the basic skills for you to become a proficient splint maker while increasing your confidence to solve splinting problems. A variety of finger, thumb and wrist splints are made with exact splints determined by participants.

Hand Splinting Retreats are a unique experience: Two days of lab time making splints in a small group with all the tools, materials, and expert help you need! While you learn new skills to construct specific splint designs, you also gain numerous tips and tricks to improve your efficiency and understanding of splint mechanics. Attendee input drives the course pace and content. These low-key retreats are a perfect way to work on your splinting skills in a non-stressful environment. 
 

Experience Level - Beginning/Intermediate

Course Objectives

At the completion of this two-day course, the participant will be able to:

1. Recognize the different working properties of at least three thermoplastic materials.
2. Discuss splinting tools, equipment, and supply selection.
3. Develop skills in cutting, molding and bonding low temperature thermoplastic splinting materials.
4. Develop skills to create precise splint patterns.
5. Learn splint strapping, padding, and adjustment skills.
6. Master a core of immobilization splint designs.
7. Acquire a basic understanding of dynamic splinting skills.
8. Discuss construction techniques to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
9. Identify solutions for splinting problems listed in pre-course interview.
10. Learn new/alternate splint designs for some of the following splints:
    • DIP extension immobilization for mallet
    • PIP extension immobilization splint
    • PIP extension immobilization splint for boutonniere
    • PIP extension mobilization –spring wire design
    • PIP end range extension mobilization-static progressive design
    • PIP flexion mobilization splint
    • Intrinsic stretching splint
    • MP flexion mobilization splints
    • Static progressive wrist extension splint
    • Hand fracture brace
    • Simple supination/pronation exercise splint

Introduction to Splinting