Advancing Your Casting Skills: Fabrication & Clinical Decision-making for the Upper Extremity

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DESCRIPTION
Serial casting is a highly beneficial intervention for patients experiencing contractures in their upper extremities. It also requires extensive practice and skill on the part of the clinician to do properly, which can be hard to acquire. This course was specially designed to provide you with both! Gain hands-on experience in the specialized practice of upper extremity serial casting, focusing on fabrication and clinical decision-making. Class size is limited to provide participants with individualized feedback from expert practitioners on the application, management and evaluation of serial casts. Learners will be introduced to a decision-making tool to assist in selecting appropriate situations for this intervention and outline the necessary steps to ensure safety, carryover and long-term effects. Extensive practice with cast removal and casting material will cover the fabrication of three common upper-extremity serial casts (circular elbow, drop out elbow and wrist cast.) Casting faculty will conduct clinical check-offs during the course on cast removal and fabrication. This course will provide learners with the necessary tools and confidence to use this intervention within their own area of practice. 

Post-course Mentorship: After the live course, learners will be matched with a casting mentor. Over a 6 month period, learners can schedule up to three calls with their faculty mentor to discuss clinical applications or address other serial casting questions. Please note, that mentors will provide general information and cannot treat patients or provide specific patient consultations. 

This unique hands-on experience is available to 18 individuals. Once the 18 spots are filled, you can email Academy@sralab.org to be added to the waiting list.

Click Here for Full Course Brochure

DATES & LOCATION
This an in-person course that will be held at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, 355 East Erie Street, Chicago IL, 60611 on June 25–27, 2025.

AUDIENCE
Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION
Participants will complete one hour of on-demand pre-work prior to the course in the Academy Learning Portal. During the on-site portion of the course, participants must sign in online to log attendance and complete an evaluation. All sessions and online evaluations must be completed by July 11, 2025 to receive full credit.

LEARNER OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. State the rationale for serial casting of the upper-extremity and determine who would be appropriate for this type of intervention
   
2. Explain how serial casting can assist in return to participation and/or decrease caregiver burden
   
3. Demonstrate appropriate fabrication of three common serial casts for the contracted upper extremity (circular elbow, drop out elbow, wrist cast)
   
4. Demonstrate proficiency in cast removal to allow for safe removal during
   patient care
   
5. Identify and address potential complications associated with serial casting, including skin issues
   
6. Using the clinical decision-making tool, discuss the process and education required to ensure maintenance of range gained through serial casting
   

COURSE FACULTY:

• Bridget Conniff, OTR/L
• Leslie Marriott, OTR/L, BCP
• Jennifer Richert, OTR/L, BCPR
• Susan Spoeri, MS OTR/L
• Kelsey Watters, CScD, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
Occupational Therapy: 

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID# pending. This Blended/Hybrid course is offered at 23.5 contact hours, 2.35 CEUs [intermediate level, foundational knowledge/OT service delivery]. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.