Manual Therapy Techniques to Address Stiffness for the Wrist

Presented by Ann Porretto-Loehrke

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Distal radius fractures are a common diagnosis that hand therapists treat. Often times, these patients end up with significant loss of motion. Sharpen your skills with joint specific techniques to address stiffness at the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints through reviewing the arthrokinematics of the wrist as well as surface anatomy to know exactly where to place your hands. Develop an understanding of how the trapezoid-on-scaphoid articulation guides motion of the midcarpal joint in the dart-throwers plane and learn joint-specific techniques to address limitations in this region. These manual therapy techniques will be covered in a step-by-step fashion for both the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints to use immediately in the clinic.

Meet your instructor

Ann Porretto-Loehrke

Ann Porretto-Loehrke is a skilled clinician with a passion for teaching and clinical treatment of upper extremity disorders. She has been practicing for 30 years and teaching continuing education courses for the past 20. She is the Clinical Development Coordinator at the Hand to Shoulder Center in Appleton, Wisconsin. Ann is…

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Chapters & learning objectives

Carpal Anatomy and Arthrokinematics of the Wrist

1. Carpal Anatomy and Arthrokinematics of the Wrist

This chapter covers the specific bony anatomy of the wrist to provide a foundation for understanding the arthrokinematics of radiocarpal and midcarpal joint motion.

Bony Surface Anatomy of the Wrist

2. Bony Surface Anatomy of the Wrist

Knowing exactly where to place your hands when performing manual therapy techniques for the wrist is critical. This chapter covers the bony surface anatomy of the dorsal and volar aspect of the wrist to gain an appreciation of where these structures lie below the skin.

Joint Mobilization Techniques for the Wrist

3. Joint Mobilization Techniques for the Wrist

Through lecture and demonstration, this chapter covers testing for a capsular pattern of the wrist as well as joint-specific testing of the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints. Joint-specific mobilization techniques will be presented to address a capsular pattern at the wrist. Manual therapy techniques will be covered in a step-by-step fashion to improve mobility at both the radiocarpal and midcarpal joints.