Clinician's Circle (July Newsletter)

HAND THERAPY TIPS

We love Hand Therapy Week - especially how it brings hand therapists together in the spirit of education and collaboration!

Over the past two years, we have asked our hand therapy community to share their favorite tips and lessons. Some of our favorites include:

• “When trying to gain IP joint flexion or provide resistance, use a balloon over the DIP joint.”
• “Use a fisherman’s knot to secure string to dynamic or static progressive orthoses so it doesn’t come loose.”
• “I’ve used coban around the IP joint when fabricating thumb spica to ensure ease of donning/doffing!”

For more great tips, check out:

2023 Tips >>

2024 Tips >>

IFSSH EZINE: ISSUE 54, MAY 2024

Have you read the latest issue of the IFSSH ezine? Download your free copy today and learn more about:

• New updates about the upcoming 2025 IFSSH/IFSHT Congress – Will you be attending?
• “Newborn Compartment Syndrome: A Challenge” highlights the rare and often unrecognized disease, NCS. Authors emphasize the crutial need to improve diagnosis and treatment protocols as NCS needs to be treated immediately to prevent further complications.
• American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) shares details about an upcoming hand and upper extremity online educational tool, Handpedia, coming in Sept. 2024.
• How hand therapists can help professional musicians experiencing upper extremity pain.
• Re-print of Journal of Hand Surgery’s “Expert Consensus on the Surgical Evaluation and Management of Upper Extremity Spasticity in Adults”
• And, more!

Download Free Copy >>

AI HELPING PT

Ready or not, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere, including healthcare. Rupa Health explores how AI technology is transforming rehabilitation as well as injury prevention. This article provides AI’s potential to provide personalized exercise programs, enhance patient engagement, and improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of physical therapy services.

? Rupa Heath, Oct. 2023

Discover More >>

MUSIC FOR PAIN

A recent study from Frontiers in Pain Research finds that listening to one’s favorite music may reduce perceived pain. Researchers found that participants who listened to their favorite music, compared to experimenter-selected music, experienced a reduction in pain. Furthermore, they suggest that moving/bittersweet favorite songs may be even more effective due to the emotional and physiological responses triggered by the music.

Full Study >>

HOW THE WRISTABLE? RELIEVED WRIST ARTHRITIS

John is a 73-year-old mechanic who eats, sleeps, and breathes cars! Even without an x-ray the severity of his wrist arthritis is obvious. I did not think the WriStable would significantly help a wrist that needed so much support, but I was wrong. We both were stunned by how much pain relief he experienced! Not only does the WriStable limit his wrist motion to mid-range, but he is more aware of his wrist motion because of the enhanced proprioception. I believe the WriStable is acting as an “external ligament” and am eager to know how well it can help others with exceptionally arthritic wrists.?- Judy Colditz, OT/L, CHT, FAOTA

How has the WriStable??helped you or your patient(s)?

We would love to hear from you in the comments! >>

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

Hints:

• Caused by a hereditary gene mutation
• Can also occur in the foot
• Another name for split hand

Were you correct? >>

The scapholunate ligament (SLL) is the most commonly injured intercarpal ligament. The SLL injury can occur in isolation or may be injured along with a distal radius fracture (DRF) resulting from a fall on the outstretched hand. While extensive SLL injuries can be identified on x-rays, smaller, more isolated SLL lesions can be difficult to identify and thus may go undetected. When we are treating a patient referred with undiagnosed wrist pain or following a DRF, how can we identify SLL injuries early so they do not become more extensive and/or more painful?

Continue Reading Clinical Pearl No. 85 >>?