At Precision Rehab, Occupational, Physical & Hand Therapy, P.L.L.C., we believe in providing the most precise and effective care for your recovery. For many hand, wrist, and arm conditions, **custom splinting** plays a critical role in optimizing healing, managing pain, and restoring function. Our highly skilled therapists are experts in fabricating custom orthoses (splints) designed specifically for your unique anatomy and therapeutic needs.
Why Custom Splinting?
While off-the-shelf braces can offer some support, a custom-fabricated splint provides superior benefits:
- Precision Fit: Molded directly to your body, a custom splint ensures an exact fit, offering maximum comfort and support without pressure points.
- Optimal Positioning: It holds your injured area in the precise position needed for healing, pain reduction, or functional improvement, based on your specific diagnosis and stage of recovery.
- Targeted Support: Custom splints can isolate movement to a specific joint or area while allowing freedom of movement in unaffected areas, which is crucial for maintaining function.
- Adjustability: As your condition improves or changes, custom splints can often be adjusted or remolded to adapt to your evolving needs.
- Durability and Material: Made from lightweight, thermoplastic materials, custom splints are durable and designed for comfortable, extended wear.
Conditions Benefiting from Custom Splinting
Custom splinting is an invaluable component of treatment for a wide variety of hand, wrist, and arm conditions, including, but not limited to:
- Fractures: Immobilizing bones to promote proper healing of fingers, hand, wrist, or forearm fractures.
- Tendon Injuries & Repairs: Protecting healing tendons after surgery (e.g., flexor or extensor tendon repairs) or managing conditions like tendonitis (e.g., De Quervain's tenosynovitis, trigger finger).
- Nerve Compressions: Providing static positioning for conditions like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Cubital Tunnel Syndrome to reduce nerve irritation.
- Arthritis: Supporting arthritic joints, reducing pain, and preventing deformities in conditions like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Ligament Injuries: Stabilizing sprained ligaments in the wrist or fingers.
- Post-Surgical Protection: Safeguarding surgical sites and promoting optimal healing after various hand or wrist surgeries.
- Deformity Correction/Prevention: Gently correcting or preventing contractures and deformities, such as in Dupuytren's contracture.
- Spasticity Management: Helping to manage muscle spasticity in neurological conditions.
The Custom Splinting Process
When a custom splint is indicated for your treatment, here's what you can expect:
- Assessment: Your therapist will conduct a thorough assessment of your condition, discuss the purpose of the splint, and determine the optimal design for your needs.
- Measurement and Patterning: Precise measurements will be taken, and a pattern may be created to ensure the best fit.
- Fabrication: Using a specialized thermoplastic material, the therapist will heat the material until pliable and then carefully mold it directly to your body part. This process is safe and comfortable.
- Fitting and Adjustments: Once molded, the splint will be trimmed, smoothed, and straps will be applied. Your therapist will ensure a comfortable fit and proper function, making any necessary adjustments.
- Education and Care: You'll receive detailed instructions on how to wear, care for, and clean your splint, along with a schedule for wear and any exercises to perform while wearing or after removing the splint.
Integrated into Your Rehabilitation Plan
At Precision Rehab, Occupational, Physical & Hand Therapy, P.L.L.C., custom splinting is often an integral part of a broader, comprehensive rehabilitation plan. It works in conjunction with therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, and other modalities to ensure the most effective and efficient recovery possible. Our goal is to empower your body's natural healing processes and restore your hand, wrist, and arm function.
If you believe a custom splint could benefit your condition or if you have any questions, please contact Precision Rehab, Occupational, Physical & Hand Therapy, P.L.L.C. today to schedule an evaluation.
