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Our Approach to Splinting
The controversy is that splinting too tight, for too long, and without rehab can lead to muscle atrophy, disconnect, and dependence on the splint.
We encourage you to consider abdominal splinting as you would use a wrap on a sprained ankle. If wrapped too tight, left on for too long, and if the muscles were never trained for walking, then it would be ineffective. But used properly – with the right amount of support for an intentional amount of time and while encouraging the client to safely use the ankle – it can be a very effective way to assist the rehab process.
The Tummy Team uses Abdominal Rehab Splints with 90% of our functional core rehab clients as a portion of the rehab process.
When used properly an abdominal rehab splint can effectively:
- Reinforce neutral and active pelvis and rib alignment
- Provide consistent sensory feedback for proper posture, and activation of the transverse abdominis
- Remind the client when they are collapsing, bracing, bulging or otherwise compensating so they can modify and adjust their movement patterns
- Approximate the right and left side of the abdominals to cue transverse activation and decrease stress on the linea alba
- Protect vulnerable linea alba while living an active daily life
- Increase blood flow, sensory feedback, and proprioceptive feedback to the core
- Support the gradual transition of using the core muscles more and more throughout the day
- Supplement the missing strength required to stand tall and elongated while continuing with the daily demands of real life
Real-life rehab is essential to client success but dependent on each client remembering to live in elongated core strong postures.
Most of our clients are not only very weak and disconnected from their true core muscles, but they are also consumed with caring for kids, work, household responsibilities, and countless other distractions. Splinting can keep core rehab in the forefront of their consciousness and provide a very effective strategy of neuromuscular re-education to foster success in their rehab process in the midst of continuing to live their real life.