Tanya Coats Occupational Therapy
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In the blog entitled “What is a Custom Orthosis?” basic information on custom orthoses was provided. But as hand therapists we can do so much more! In this blog, different types of custom orthoses and the reason your doctor and therapist may recommend one or another will be reviewed. In general, an orthosis is a …
After an injury, surgery, or onset of certain conditions, your doctor may ask you to see a hand therapist. Your prescription for therapy might include the need for a custom orthosis, commonly referred to as a brace or splint. A custom orthosis is a device that is molded to and worn on a specific body …
An injury to the extensor tendon in Zone 1, over the Distal Inter-Phalangeal (DIP) joint and/or middle phalanx, is termed a mallet finger. This injury occurs when there has been a disruption of the terminal slip extensor tendon, causing the finger to droop and the inability to actively extend the fingertip. The mechanism of injury …
10 Questions and Answers about Arthritis and Orthoses Arthritis is a very common disorder that includes more than 100 different types of joint diseases and can affect people of all ages. We give you a short introduction to arthritis, how it is diagnosed and how orthoses can help people who suffer from this common yet often misunderstood joint disease. …
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So you decided to get into the Christmas spirit and put up some decorations. You got out the ladder, but oops, you fell. Now your hand is swollen and bruised, however, you have full range of movement of your fingers and wrist. What is it? A broken hand is when a break/fracture occurs to one …
Here is a creative method to assess nerve functioning in the hand and some ideas for orthotic interventions. Using the universally known children’s game of “Rock, Paper, Scissors”, one can assess the nerve functioning of the three peripheral nerves of the upper extremity. 1) Median Nerve: Rock Position Muscles utilized in this position: Pronator Teres, Flexor …
Orthotic interventions can benefit our elderly patients by protecting sore and inflamed joints, providing stability and support, correcting and/ or preventing contractures, and offering relief from pain. When working with this population, the clinician must take into account each patient’s physical and cognitive status along with their ability to perform independent activities of daily living …