Instructional Concurrent Session 8

Osseointegration (OI) has recently become available for compassionate care use in the US and has changed the lives of individuals with transhumeral limb loss for the better. The risk/benefit balance of this procedure has continued to shift as it addresses several of the challenges that exist within current prosthetic designs and as more outcomes are gathered. As this procedure becomes more common, it is paramount that therapists understand the surgery, the rehabilitation protocol, and their important role on the interdisciplinary team from the onset of care. Using case studies and lecture components, including the perspective of the prosthetist, this course will review the protocol for upper limb amputation rehabilitation after OI, as well as the prosthetic considerations needed to interface with OI componentry, and provide useful strategies for becoming an integrated member of the care team from the beginning to optimize positive outcomes for patients who have undergone OI surgery.

Level: Advanced

This session will provide evidence-based information and experiential learning opportunities for cultivating self-care and resilience tools for challenging times in and outside the clinic. A variety of tools that leverage the strengths of the body, mind and spirit will be presented and practiced. Tools and techniques will include breath work, mindful movement, medical therapeutic yoga, leveraging character strengthens and building healthy boundaries. We are able to provide our best care when we are our best selves. The goal of this course is to help you be your best.

Level: Entry

The upper extremity therapist toolbox is very well suited for orthopedic assessments, but does it feel suited for the referral of a child with cerebral palsy referred for an upper extremity specialty evaluation? Or when the surgeon calls and asks your opinions about surgical planning for an older adult with spasticity after a stroke? This presentation will look at assessments available for assessing spasticity across the lifespan, including video examples to show common movement patterns. The presentation will also highlight surgical options that may be available, how the therapist can assist with surgical planning, and how the therapist can assist with advocating for patients affected by spasticity in their upper extremity.

Level: Entry

Relative motion extension orthoses are commonly used by hand therapists to protect extensor tendon repairs in their patients while allowing motion to the involved digit. Recent evidence suggests that relative motion orthoses have value both as a protective orthosis, as well as an exercise orthosis. This concept of using a relative motion orthoses to position the metacarpophalangeal joint to promote or reduce extensor digitorum communis and flexor digitorum profundus tendon excursion is being considered for proximal interphalangeal joint stiffness or extensor lag due to injury or surgery. This presentation will review the concepts of relative motion, discuss a relative motion exercise orthosis algorithm for limited finger movement and its utility in the clinical decision-making process, and identify ways hand therapists are using relative motion exercise orthoses to improve patients' functional outcomes. We will also discuss factors that impact patients' compliance wearing the orthosis.

Level: Entry