SPLINTING CAN HAVE MANY BENEFITS 
If you look around town from time to time you will see people wearing splints on their finger, hand, wrist, or arm. The history of these devices actually goes back to ancient times. Today however there are fracture splints, carpal tunnel splints, thumb splints, etc and most are made of plastic with detachable Velcro straps. The material is light, easy to work with, and gets the job done. Almost all of the splints in our clinic are custom made to fit the individual patient. The theory being the better the fit, the better the comfort, the better the follow through on wearing the splint by the patient. But why wear splints in the first place? What does a splint do exactly? The purpose of wearing a splint is to help heal a painful, stiff, or injured area. In early history splints were used primarily for treating fractures. These were made of reeds, bamboo and bark padded with linen in ancient Egyptian times. Copper splints for treating burn injuries were dated to 1500 BC. Around 460 BC Hippocrates, (Greek) developed leather straps to hold the splints on the fracture. In fact, leather was in extensive use in splints until recently. In this century splinting and braces were advanced by their use in combating the muscle spasticity found in polio. The two world wars greatly advanced the technology of splinting as well. Now splinting has a classification system and standards exist for treating different problems and disorders. As you can see, splints can be used to reduce numbness in the hand, stop thumb pain, protect healing nerves, tendons and muscles; and also straighten bent or stiff fingers. However a few precautions should be kept in mind when splint wearing is being considered. If there is a loss of sensation in the body part, care must be taken to protect the tissues from getting too much pressure that will cause skin breakdown. Diabetics in particular need to be careful to protect the hands and feet. People with under active thyroids are also prone to loss of sensation in the hands and feet. Remember too that each person has a unique size and shape of splint that is needed. Off the shelf splints rarely fit well from my experience. Custom fit splints that are fit to the specific patient from my experience work better and are more comfortable. Many patients strap splints on too tight, causing swelling and pain in the hand or arm. Working with a therapist who fits your splint ensures you will wear it properly and at the right time of day. It also ensures you will know how to wear the splint and be able to get it off and on with ease. Certain precautions can be observed by the therapist and the patient educated by verbal and written instructions. If you, or your patients get symptoms of numbness or tingling in the hand(s), pain around the base of the thumb, pain in the wrist, elbow or fingers, consider splinting. I have nineteen years experience and have been a certified hand therapist for seven years. I would be happy to help you with any problems you may be experiencing. Ask your doctor to see us or give us a call. So give us a call today if you have a problem. We will give your patients the individual attention that is required to help solve their problem. Proper splinting can reduce pain and prevent nerve damage from becoming permanent. Carpal Tunnel splints allow the wrist to remain straight, improving blood flow and resting the area. Tennis elbow splints are designed to rest the tendons involved. Thumb splints are given to stabilize the thumb and reduce pain and inflammation due to arthritis while still allowing the hand to be used for daily activities. Hand and forearm splints may be used for reducing compression of nerves, resting areas that have tendinitis or used early after fractures to allow early motion of the fingers Splints to reduce deformity from arthritis Elbow splints may be used to reduce compression of a nerve which innervates the last two fingers. It can also be used to reduce tendinitis where the triceps elbow extensor muscle inserts on the elbow. Splints to protect tendons, nerves or muscles that have been injured. Shoulder splints to protect the shoulder from being re-injured following surgery or sports or work injury. Splints can be used to straighten or bend stiff fingers. Splints can also be used to increase the AROM of the wrist following a fracture, particularly if the cast had to be on longer than usual. |
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