Are you an experienced therapist making splints but want to expand your repertoire and develop a fresh perspective? This course is intended for those with splinting experience who are comfortable handling thermoplastic splinting material but want to expand their design and fitting skills for immobilization and mobilization splints. 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 - Intermediate/Advanced

Course Objectives

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

1. Analyze the three points of pressure needed to immobilize or mobilize any joint.
2. Consider splint designs that provide optimal 3-point pressure for specific clinical problems.
3. Recognize how distal migration of splints can be prevented.
4. Consider changes in the method of designing splints.
5. Study ways to alter splint designs to make them more mechanically efficient.
6. Discuss construction techniques to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
7. Study outrigger construction and placement.
8. Explore characteristics of splinting materials for new clinical application.
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

Splinting for the Experienced Therapist (14 Contact Hours)