Splinting is a common strategy for managing joint instability in hypermobility syndromes. There is a lot of mis-information associated with splinting and it’s not uncommon to get splints with little or no information about correct use.
This info is designed to be a general guide, not to replace any specific information given by your own healthcare providers.
This page will (when finished) be a collection of my thoughts on splinting. Best practice, based on my degree in Occupational Therapy and a lifetime of splinting for my own Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.
Click the links below to read posts on different splinting topics.
Use of Splinting for Hypermobility Syndromes
Types of Splints
Beginners Guide to Kinesiology Tape
Medical Corsetry (Back pain and PoTS management)
Ring Splints By Zomile (Silver finger splints)
Rhizomed Thumb Support
More topics will be added as and when I write them, if you’d like to request a specific topic then please ask.
I have a physiatrist here in the states (Florida) but she doesn’t ‘believe in’ bracing. My last physio has recommended a new ground-return afo for one leg, but my other subluxations I have to deal with on my own (EDS-H, plus POTS, MCAS and a compound MTHFR issue)
I need to learn to tape myself (was taped on afo leg a few years back by a different physio and enjoyed tremendous relief and much less falling/toe drop/stumbling about from Neuro damage caused by compartment syndrome injury in that same leg about 15 years ago).
Do you have a chart or booklet for purchase? Or, could you please recommend a reference or textbook on kinesiotaping?
My husband will have to learn also and assist, as most of my current issues are shoulders, cervical/occipital, along with the knee hyperextension (17 degrees) and hips, hands, wrists, etc that I can tape on my own. Physiatrist also believes if braced, I would come to rely on bracing, even after insisting I need bracing to maintain stability as much as possible so as to be as mobile as possible, even when in my manual wheelchair.
Taping may be my only relief unless I’m able to locate a new physiatrist.
Thank you!
Hi there, thanks for your comment. I’m sorry you’re having a rough time with things. The bracing debate goes round in circles I’m afraid. I mostly look online for tape inspiration but I know there is a guide available via amazon. The KT website is wonderful with video tutorials – https://www.kttape.com/how-to-apply-kt-tape there’s also Sport tape for tutorials 🙂 https://www.sporttape.co.uk/pages/taping-application-guides
I have alll that you do as well. My ankle has PNNS in it and I’m 54 and really thinking about amputation. I have so many new masses in it now after my new cadaver tendons were put in.
Huge hugs.