Posted on Fri, Aug 06, 2010 @ 12:42 PM
Julie Belkin, founder and president of 3-Point Products (pictured in the center), was interviewed on television about her experience as someone who suffers from arthritis, has treated arthritis patients as an occupational therapist and founded a company that focuses primarily on arthritis-related products. She has designed a number of arthritis splints for fingers, thumbs and wrists, some of which she wears herself. Among other things, the video shows her discussing two of these splints and a reacher, a type of product Ms. Belkin recommends to every household.
The timing of this television interview was tied to National Arthritis Month (every May). Megan Pringle, co-anchor on the Baltimore ABC affiliate WMAR-TV's "Good Morning Maryland" program, conducted the interview. The inteview with Julie Belkin is the second half of the 8-minute video clip below.
The first half of the video features Jamie Costello interviewing Dr. Mark Deitch of the Orthomaryland Medical Group. Dr. Deitch's specialty is orthopaedics of the hand. He discusses which joints are most commonly affected by arthritis, different forms of arthritis and various treatment options. Arthritis treatment options include medications, splints & braces, injections and surgery. The main goals of arthritis treatment, according to Dr. Deitch, are improving function and reducing arthritis pain.
Watch the video here:
Here is a link to a summary of the interviews about arthritis and what can help. If you found this informative, please let the ABC station know by leaving a comment on their web site so they can consider your feedback when planning future programs.
You can also leave a comment below.
Posted on Fri, Feb 19, 2010 @ 03:01 PM
How is a Trigger Finger treated?
The treatments for a trigger finger include taking anti-inflammatory medicines like aspirin or ibuprofen, wearing a splint that limits how much the finger can bend, or getting a cortisone injection from your doctor. Sometimes, all 3 methods may be combined to try and stop the triggering.
If splinting and cortisone injections fail to stop the problem, surgery may be needed to remove the inflamed or scarred tissues and free up the tendon.
What kind of splint options are there?
There are a variety of splint options available, with the best option being a splint that prevents the finger from bending to the point where it triggers but still allows you to use your hand.
Oval-8 Finger Splints are a great solution as they can be worn to prevent the finger from bending all the way but still allow you to use your hand. They are easy to wear and if you have any pain or tenderness in the palm they can be cushioned with a gel sleeve to prevent pressure over the tendon.
By limiting how far the finger bends, the tendon is less likely to get caught in the pulley or sheath and it has the chance to rest and heal. Oval-8 splints can be worn during the day and at night and they can be used after the finger has been injected to allow the finger to rest and the injection to be fully effective.
How do I get an Oval-8?
Oval-8 splints have to be sized and fit by a health care provider to make certain the fit is correct and that you know how to care for your finger. If your doctor or therapist doesn't know about Oval-8 splints, you can get more information by visiting the Oval-8 finger splint page, which includes a video on all of the conditions that can be treated by Oval-8 splints, how the splint is fitted for a Trigger finger and how it can be modified by a therapist or doctor.
You can even find the name of a hand surgeon or hand therapist near you who might have the Oval-8's and will be able to fit you and order you a splint by visiting the links found on the About Us page.
Author: Julie Belkin
Posted on Fri, Feb 19, 2010 @ 02:22 PM
What is a Trigger Finger
If you wake up with your finger stuck in a bent position or feel a pop when you try to straighten it, you may have a Trigger Finger. In an advanced case of Trigger Finger you may have to use your other hand to open the finger.
The tendons that bend your finger are called the flexor tendons and they travel through the palm and into the fingers. The tendons move through a covering called a "sheath" and they pass through a series of pulleys that hold the tendons close to the finger.
If there is swelling around the tendon or a nodule that has built up, the tendon can get stuck in the sheath or as it goes through the pulley. When that happens, the finger can get caught in a closed position and when your tendon pulls to straighten it, the swollen area pops as it is forced through the pulley.
How do you get a Trigger Finger?
Many Trigger Fingers are in response to overuse and people who grip tools for long periods or do other repetitive tasks are prone to developing trigger fingers. It's also not uncommon for trigger fingers to occur with no known cause.
Author: Julie Belkin