Hand splinting orthotic intervention: principles of design and fabrication

Hand splinting or orthotic fabrication is a vital intervention used by occupational and physiotherapists to restore optimum hand function in patients/clients whose upper limbs have been affected by congenital conditions, disease or trauma. Detailed information describes how orthoses can immobilize tissues to achieve healing or functional objectives, mobilize tissues to restore joint motion, and restrict tissues to gain function. Armed with knowledge of orthosis function and purpose, and practical procedures and techniques, hand and upper limb therapists will be able to fabricate orthoses for a wide range of diagnoses.