Month: September 2016

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The thumb is an extremely mobile joint that demonstrates a wide range of movement. A thumb injury can be broadly defined as anything that causes pain or discomfort in the thumb – sometimes this occurs without direct impact to the area itself. The scenario above sounds like a soft tissue injury at the base of the thumb, but this is just one of many common thumb injuries.

Giving a careful history and having a clinical examination from a hand therapist will assist in confirming the diagnosis. Read more

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elbow tendinopathy

What is it?

Elbow tendinopathy – commonly known as tennis elbow or epicondylitis – is an injury to the muscles that extend from the elbow to the wrist. Pain can manifest in different places down the arm (and sometimes even in the neck), generally in the lateral epicondyle, which is the bony outer part of the elbow where muscles from the hand and wrist are attached. Symptoms lasting more than 6 weeks are considered sub-acute, whereas those lasting more than three months are considered chronic.

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Thermoplastic splinting material is used when fabricating custom made splints. The splints can be made during a consultation with your hand therapist and may be remoulded to allow for reduction in swelling or to maximise comfort.

Thermoplastic splints differ from traditional plaster casting in that they are lighter, easily moulded to conform to the shape of the individual patient, and can be removed for exercise (if appropriate), cleaning and skin hygiene.

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The elbow is made up of three main bones: the humerus, the radius and the ulna. The elbow joint consists of portions of these three bones: the distal humerus is the centre of the elbow, the radial head moves around the distal humerus and rotates when the wrist is turned, and the olecranon is the bony part of the elbow that protrudes when your arm is flexed and which cups the end of the humerus. Read more