3-Point Products' Blog

Introducing 3pp Clinic Connect

Much has changed in the last year, but it has not changed our commitment to healthcare providers and their patients. We are proud to introduce our NEW 3pp Clinic Connect program to better serve healthcare professionals and offer a new convenient way to Stay informed, Stay updated and Stay connected with 3 Point Products.

As skiing enthusiasts hit the slopes this time of the year, the likelihood of the number of thumb injuries increases. An ulnar collateral ligament injury of the thumb called Skier’s Thumb represents 5-10% of all skiing injuries and has been described as the most frequent injury to the upper extremity experienced by skiers.

There are a variety of wrist injuries that can occur from a traumatic fall on an outstretched hand. These injuries are termed FOOSH (fall on an outstretched hand) injuries. Probably the most well-known FOOSH is a distal radius fracture, which is identified and treated first by a physician. As a health care professional, you may be seeing an increase in referrals for wrist pain from falls this time of year, now may be a good time to review the clinical signs used to find other FOOSH injuries.

The CMCcare Thumb Brace functional design leaves the ulnar side of the hand free and stabilizes the CMC to allow unimpeded function for excellent patient compliance. 

Features of the CMCcare include:

Anatomy of the Wrist

What is Ehlers Danlos Syndrome 

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is an inherited condition of a collection of connective tissue disorders, of which the hypermobile type is the most common. Individuals with Hypermobile EDS classically present with hyperextensible joints and skin. 

Research statistics on EDS suggest the prevalence of the disorder is 1 in 2,500 to 1 in 5,000, but due to difficulty recognizing and accurately diagnosing the Hypermobility Type, the incidence is suspected to be much greater.

Summer is here and working in the gardens and flower beds and pulling up the weeds is in full swing. This work may help the landscaping look beautiful, but for those with osteoarthritis at the base of the thumb, the force from pinching and pulling at the weeds can leave thumbs hurting. While textbooks and older research studies discuss using an orthosis, paraffin, gentle AROM, and joint protection techniques to address the pain and limited function associated with trapeziometacarpal arthritis (TMC), more recent studies highlight the potential benefit of stabilization and proprioceptive exercises for this diagnosis.

Clients with lateral epicondylitis (also known as tennis elbow) consistently appear on my schedule. As therapists, we know that swinging the tennis racket is not the only possible cause of this diagnosis. Lateral epicondylitis is due to a degenerative process at the poorly vascularized origin of the wrist extensors on the boney prominence at the lateral elbow. It is often contributed to over use of the wrist extensors. Individuals with this diagnosis often describe pain at the lateral elbow that is persistent, very uncomfortable and limiting.

Osteoarthritis (OA) at the base of the thumb is a common diagnosis among older individuals.  Research suggests that 26.2% of women and 13.4 % of men age 71-100 years old have symptoms of this diagnosis and that approximately 70% of community dwelling individuals with hand pain have OA at the base of the thumb as well.

Studies have consistently found that using an orthosis helps to decrease pain and improve function for individuals with arthritis at the base of the thumb. There is no consistent evidence to suggest that one orthosis is more effective than another, however, research does suggest that individuals prefer pre-fabricated designed orthoses.

Osteoarthritis (OA), or the degeneration of a joint, commonly occurs at the base of the thumb. OA at this joint is diagnosed with conventional radiographs (x-rays), but often can be recognized based on symptoms. Symptoms occur predominantly with pain at the base of the thumb, especially when performing tasks that require a pinch (i.e. pulling on socks).