PANat Urias Johnstone User Manual page 18

Application of the air splint
1
Close the zip. Put the air splint onto your arm
(the right arm if it is the client's right arm). Take
the client's hand in a handshake hold and draw
the air splint over his arm.
 The shoulder is outwardly rotated, elbow
extended, wrist in 10° extension, the thumb is
abducted (outward and straight) and the
fingers are straight.
 The zip lies parallel to the 5th finger.
 The client turns his head and looks towards
the hemiplegic hand.
3
Place the inflation tube in your mouth. This
leaves both hands free to maintain the position
of the limb in the air splint.
Abduct the thumb applying light pressure over
the thenar eminence (base of 1st metacarpal).
Hold it in this position during inflation.
The fingers are straight and held together - not
apart. The wrist is supported in approx 10°
dorsal extension. Both of your hands are needed
to keep the client's hand in the optimal position.
5
Correct position.
© Rights reserved PANat 2009, revised 02/2015, version 2017
2
The air splint is drawn up the arm to leave a
space of 3 fingers' width from the axilla.
4
Leave a space of 6-8 cm from the finger tips to
the open end of the air splint: this ensures even
pressure over the arm and hand.
18