General Course Info

NES believes that splinting is easy but splinting well takes a life time to master. We also believe that clinical reasoning helps the process of matching the needs of the patient with the splint that you fabricate. Come on one of our splinting courses to have fun and challenge yourself to improve your practice. NES runs a popular 3 day BAHT validated splinting course. Select subjects from this longer course to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of assessment, conservative management, or post-surgical management. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

We have taught a variety of splinting subjects including:

• Neoprene splinting
• Introduction to static splinting
• Dynamic and static progressive splinting
• Splinting the wrist
• Splinting the PIPJ
• Splinting the OA and RA hand

The Splinting Companies are usually very supportive of NES splinting courses and will probably help us with providing materials for any course you would like us to run for you. We have much of the equipment required.

Splinting thermoplastic and neoprene 2 days

Splinting the Hand 3 days

Splinting hand and wrist 2 days

Splinting hand 1 day

Splinting Hand 2 days

Splinting the Hand 4 days

Hand therapists need to be multi skilled when treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Assessment of the R.A. hand is an art. Conservative management techniques include joint protection, exercise, splinting and functional restoration. Treatment regimes for the complex surgical procedures, including MCPJ and PIPJ arthroplasties, are varied. NES runs a popular 3 day BAHT validated RA course. Select topics from this longer course to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of assessment, conservative management or post-surgical management. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning. You could consider combining this with Osteoarthritis – in particular OA thumb management.

Rheumatology hand 2 day

The PIPJ continues to be a challenge for hand therapists. Learn the detailed anatomy and apply the biomechanics to the deformities or injuries that occur. NES runs a popular 3 day BAHT validated PIPJ course. Select topics from this longer course to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of assessment, conservative management or post-surgical management. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning. There are plenty of practical sessions including splinting the PIPJ and management of the stiff PIPJ.

The anatomy and biomechanics of the wrist elude many hand therapists. With a good understanding of this and thorough assessment skills, hand therapists have a great deal to offer patients with wrist pathology and can apply the theory to injury and instability. NES runs a popular 3 day BAHT validated Wrist course. Select topics from this longer course to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of assessment, conservative management or post-surgical management. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

Wrist management 2 days

Wrist management 1 day

All hand therapists spend much of their time assessing the hand and upper limb. Without good assessment, it is impossible to set treatment goals and evaluate effectiveness. You need to look at your techniques in relation to the reliability and validity of the tools you are using as well as standardising your techniques.  Select topics from the BAHT Level II assessment course to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of hand and upper limb assessment. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

Despite our best efforts, many of our patients will develop complications such as persistent oedema, stiffness of a single joint or a whole hand, CRPS, pain or reduced function. Looking in depth at the pathophysiology, causes and management of these complications will enable the hand therapist to apply the skills and the reasoning to treat these challenging scenarios. . Select subjects to match the specific needs of your caseload. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of assessment, conservative management, or post-surgical management of complications. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

Hand Therapists are expected to develop autonomous decision making in triage, diagnosis and decision on appropriate management of a wide range of hand and wrist conditions/ injuries. This course is ideal if you wish to become more proficient at examining the wrist and hand and gain the ability to eliminate potential causes and diagnose the correct specific problem. NES runs successful one or 2 day courses. Select subjects to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of hand and wrist diagnoses. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

Lacerations and compressions to peripheral nerves can be devastating injuries for our patients. A thorough understanding of anatomy and recovery potential of a nerve, assessment and treatment of injury and compression from brachial plexus to the hand is essential in advising patients about realistic rehabilitation. Techniques for sensory assessment can be included as well as workshops on sensory re-education, desensitisation and splinting.  NES runs popular 3 day BAHT validated Acquired conditions / WRULD courses. Select subjects from this longer course to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of assessment, conservative management or post-surgical management. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

Nerve compression and injury 2 days

All therapists spend much of their time treating tendon injuries. Therapists need detailed knowledge of the relevant anatomy, mechanics of injury and surgery but with an emphasis on the therapeutic regimes used and clinical reasoning for managing challenging cases. NES runs a popular 3 day BAHT validated Tendon injury course. Select subjects from this longer course to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of assessment, conservative management or post-surgical management. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

Much time is spent treating trauma to the hand. All hand therapists need to have excellent knowledge of hand and upper limb anatomy as well as healing on which to base all clinical reasoning. Knowledge of tendon, nerve, fracture and ligament injuries as well as complex multi-trauma will enable the hand therapist to treat each individual patient most appropriately. NES runs a popular 3 day BAHT validated Trauma course. Select subjects from this longer course to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of assessment, conservative management or post-surgical management. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

Knowledge about and treatment for congenital hand anomalies can be difficult to access due to the ultra specialisation of this field. An overview of classification of congenital hand anomalies, the psychology involved – particularly for the parents -, key roles for the hand therapist, assessing the paediatric hand, and the most commonly seen anomalies will enable the therapist to treat these challenging and long term patients. NES runs a popular 3 day BAHT validated Acquired Conditions course which included a section on Congenital Hand Anomalies. Select subjects from this longer course to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of assessment, conservative management or post-surgical management. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

People with work related upper limb disorders are increasingly being sent to hand therapy for treatment. The topics we could cover include an overview of terms used and history of WRULDs, possible causation, potential pathologies, physical risk factors, psychosocial risk factors, theories of WRULDs and treatment – including ergonomics. The clinical conditions include the common nerve, tendon and joint problems such as CTS, De Quervains tenovaginitis and OA thumb. NES runs popular 3 day BAHT validated Acquired Conditions and WRULD courses. Select subjects from this longer course to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of assessment, conservative management or post-surgical management. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

MSK Problems Hand Wrist 2 days

The thumb produces challenging assessment and management due to its complexity and importance in function. Learning the detail of anatomy, functional role and assessment of the thumb as well as a selection of acquired and traumatic conditions such as tendon injuries, ulnar collateral injuries, fractures, De Quervains tenovaginitis, Trigger thumb, digital and peripheral nerve injuries, splinting the thumb and arthritis.  Select topics from our BAHT Level II Thumb course to match your specific needs or follow a previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of assessment, conservative management or post-surgical management. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

This course is aimed at therapists already working in the field of hand therapy who wish to learn the anatomy, biomechanics and theories of mobilisation techniques. Time will be spent looking at indications and contra-indications of using mobilisations as well as plenty of time practising mobilisations of the IPJs, MCPJs and wrist. NES runs popular ½ day to 3 day courses. Select subjects from these courses to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover beginner and more advanced mobilisations and for a range of joint and conditions. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

Mobilisations 1 day

Mobiisations Basic 2 days

Mobilisations Advanced 2 days

Hand fractures are the most common injury presenting to the A&E departments. Knowledge of the anatomy of the forearm, wrist and hand, types of fractures and bone healing, as well as triage of forearm, carpal, metacarpal and digital fractures will be taught with sessions on interpretation of X-Rays. Core skills include management of oedema, scars, use of activity and exercise, stiffness and CRPS. NES runs a popular 3 day BAHT validated Fractures course. Select subjects from this longer course to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of assessment, conservative management or post-surgical management. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

Fractures 2 days

An opportunity to understand the theory behind using different imaging for the hand and wrist including MRI, X-ray, CT, diagnostic ultrasound and bone scan. Specific views and clinical reasoning behind choosing these views will be considered. Interpreting all these images will be discussed using cases relating to the digits, hand, thumb and wrist. There will be an opportunity to develop clinical reasoning in relation to surgery and therapy for some of these cases. NES includes this topic in the BAHT validated Fractures and Wrist courses. Select subjects from this longer course to match your specific needs or follow the previously used programme. We can design a course to cover all or a selection of imaging interpretation, traumatic and acquired conditions. This will enable therapists to become aware of the current literature and investigate the clinical reasoning.

An opportunity to gain a basic knowledge of the assessment, treatment and management of complications for a range of commonly treated hand injuries and conditions. Theoretical and practical sessions for assessment and treatment. Opportunity to discuss clinical reasoning for a range of complications pre and post surgery.

Introduction to Hand Therapy 2 days

Intro to Hand Management 1 day