This video demonstrates thermoplastic splint fabrication very similar to what we did in lab. I thought it would serve as a good reminder. It also includes fabrication on an outrigger.
I was just talking to a friend that works as a COTA on the home health setting yesterday about adaptive equipment. She was telling she is always having to fabricate adaptive devices for her patients because there are just certain things they need but cannot afford. Poverty is a huge issue especially with our elderly who are living on a fixed income. We will have to work with the supplies on hand. If we can't think of it,I am sure we can find it on Pinterest :)
After reading about desensitization I was interested in learning more and, lo and behold, our favorite Amputee OT had a great video on the topic!
She talks about the importance of massage, tapping, and using different types of fabric to help with hypersensitivity (desensitization) of the residual limb. She also touches on some exercises that are used to help prepare a residual limb for weight-bearing during use of prosthesis.
Treatments for disorders of the UE. There are pictures of the devices, the indicated diagnosis, purpose, and benefits. A great resource if you work in a clinic that does splinting/orthotics. These are custom fabricated and there are benefits associated with making your client's splints-removable, adjustable, reform-able, can get wet, and can be cleaned.
I mainly have this in here for the pictures of the splints. They have several different kinds and they look way better than the ones we made in lab lol.
The following is a question and answer based article geared towards understanding the many different types of thermoplastic materials available for orthotic fabrication. It is important to understand the ways in which thermoplastic materials behave when activated in order to make them work properly and effectively for each and every orthotic design.