DIP Blocking Exercise Splint

Doing blocking exercises for any joint can be a real pain because it takes quite a lot of strength from the other hand to stabilize/immobilize the joint that is being "blocked". I always thought it would be great if a person could use some sort of device to assist with this otherwise time consuming task.

My pt had a PIP (proximal interphalangeal joint) contracture of both his ring and small fingers which made it increasingly difficult to perform DIP (distal interphalangeal joint) blocking exercises. The FDP (Flexor Digitorum Profundus) could not be isolated because the FDS (Flexor Digitorum Superficialis) always took over.

Below is a splint that was initially created for him by another therapist. The main problem was that there wasn't enough support dorsally because the splint would keep sliding up and down which still required quite a bit of effort from the other hand to stabilize. We attempted to put a dense foam to apply additional pressure but it just wasn't enough.


After trying a few other adjustments we decided to create a whole different splint for him. This took more of a gutter approach with support both volarly and dorsally. This provided a snug fit which reduced the amount of space allowed for sliding up and down. I had to open up the radial side of the ring finger because my pt was having quite a bit of pain sliding his fingers in and out of the splint. Fortunately he has been able to use this splint to perform isolated blocking of both his ring and small finger DIP joints.