Instructional Concurrent Session 10

Softball and baseball are two of the most popular participation sports from youth through adulthood. The wrist is involved in almost every aspect of softball and baseball, including fielding, throwing, pitching, and hitting at all ages and levels of play. In recent years, we have seen an increase in wrist injuries, and they require sport-specific treatment skills for the upper extremity specialist managing these athletes to safely return them to play. This session will discuss the specialized evaluation and treatment of the wrist in softball and baseball players to safely return them to all aspects of play, including throwing, pitching, fielding, and hitting. There will be a biomechanical approach to the wrist in all aspects of play and the differences between softball and baseball.

Level: Advanced

Hand therapy fellowships are an individualized way to provide mentorship and training to cultivate the next generation of hand therapists. Whether you are interested in building a new hand therapy fellowship or seeking out the opportunity to become the next hand therapy fellow, this session is for you! Through a panel of experienced hand therapy fellowship coordinators and mentors, we will share a brief history of hand therapy and upper extremity fellowships, the purpose and benefits of fellowships, ideas to build didactic content and experiences, best practices for providing mentorship for mentors and mentees, and additional tips and tricks we have learned along the way.

Level: Intermediate

Self-management strategies are critical for patients with chronic hand pain, yet adherence remains a challenge. This session will explore the practice patterns of hand therapists in prescribing self-management strategies and their perceptions of patient adherence before and after therapy initiation. Through a cross-sectional survey of hand therapy practitioners, this study identifies commonly used strategies, perceived barriers, and facilitators to self-management. The session will also examine clinician-reported factors that enhance or hinder adherence, such as patient education, accessibility, and systemic barriers. At the conclusion of this session, participants will have a deeper understanding of clinician-perspectives on chronic hand pain self-management, patient adherence trends, and strategies to promote lasting self-care habits that improve patient outcomes.

Level: Entry

What's so special about the little finger? It is the weakest finger, it often doesn't have both of its flexor tendons, and it is the most frequently fractured finger during fits of extreme anger. Its very name suggests that it is inconsequential, yet it can irritatingly show its self-importance when drinking tea in a posh setting. This presentation will highlight the unique qualities and tribulations of the small finger in injury, splinting, and surgical intervention.

Level: Advanced