Instructional Concurrent Session 4

This will be an instructional session where participants will learn how to approach and design both conservative and post-op TFCC injury management for improved outcomes. We will explore several cases in a case-based format to bridge the gap between evidence and practice. Participants can look forward to developing a critical-thinking mindset to solving common pitfalls with TFCC injury management.

Level: Entry, Intermediate, Advanced

When patients present to me with trigger finger, they typically have many questions: Will this get better? What exercises are appropriate? How can I avoid an injection or surgery? As clinicians, we are expected to provide clear guidance, yet sometimes the large volume of information available to us is conflicting, outdated, or inconsistently applied in practice. This confusion is increasingly amplified by social media, where exercises are often promoted as “the best way to get rid of trigger finger,” despite limited or inconsistent evidence to support many of these claims.

This variability raises important clinical questions. What does the current evidence actually say about conservative management of trigger finger? When should we confidently recommend a course of hand therapy, and when should we recognize that therapy is unlikely to be effective? How should splinting be implemented - what type, for how long, and with what expectations? 
The aim of this presentation is to critically review and synthesize the available evidence on trigger finger management and present it in a clear, concise, and clinically relevant manner. By translating current research into practical recommendations, this session will support hand therapists in making informed, evidence-based decisions when treating this extremely common yet potentially debilitating condition.

Level: Entry

This interactive session focuses on critically appraising research and translating evidence into practice. Using relative motion flexion orthoses as an example, participants will evaluate research quality, identify levels of evidence, and recognize common methodological flaws and biases.

The session reviews key research concepts, including study design, statistical interpretation, and reporting guidelines. Through polling and discussion, participants will analyze studies, develop clinical questions, and apply evidence-based frameworks to guide decision-making when high-level evidence is limited.

Level: Entry

From the perspective of the upper-extremity therapist, rotational sports are presenting us with both volume and variety of clinical material. Golf, tennis, pickleball, football, baseball and softball are just a few of the growing rotational sports for all ages. The full extent of anatomy trains that link joints, muscles and fascia need to be understood by the treating clinician. They need to be able to assess the kinetic chain and develop movement patterns to return the injured athlete to play. Concepts of rotational movement, stability and customized exercise and treatments are required to get better results for injured rotational athletes.

The upper extremity is involved in almost every aspect of rotational sports and must be coordinated with trunk and hip rotation to perform the demands of the sport. In recent years, we have seen an increase in upper extremity injuries in rotational athletes, 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 upper extremity in rotational athletes to safely return them to all aspects of the sports they play.

Level: Advanced

Upper extremity injuries significantly impact an individual’s ability to meet job demands, particularly in physically intensive roles. This session assists the outpatient orthopedic therapist in identifying the most common upper extremity injuries and identifying the ways in which these injuries occur. Participants will understand ways in which to reduce risk for the upper extremity for those at work. Participants will learn structured approaches to progressing patients from acute recovery to work readiness, emphasizing both physical and psychosocial contributors to successful outcomes. Participants will learn their respective role in the return to work process and how to support the patient from injury to return to work without restrictions.