Treatment of the Upper Limb in Patients with EDS or Hypermobility Syndromes

Course description:

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the clinical assessment of the thumb and the ulnar fingers, alongside practice-based orthotic treatment options. Equal attention will be given to identifying functional impairments, structural considerations, and common movement patterns in EDS and HSD that affect thumb stability, mobility, and the interplay with the ulnar digits. The session is highly practice-oriented, drawing on clinical experience and hands-on orthotic strategies, offering a comprehensive view of thumb–ulnar finger integration in hand function.

This course is part of a two-part series. One week prior, Dr. Aylin Canbeck will present a course focused on medical and patient perspectives of EDS and Hypermobility Syndromes. For a comprehensive educational experience, please register for each course separately.

Course language:

English

About the course instructor:

Nathalie Schelpe
– Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (2008)
– Bachelor of Orthopaedic Technology (2013)
– Certified Belgian Handtherapist (2020)
Nathalie Schelpe is an experienced occupational therapist and orthopaedic engineer with extensive expertise in the treatment of patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD), integrating long-term splinting solutions – such as silver splints – into treatment plans to improve function, stability, and overall quality of life.
In 2016 she founded her own practice, Hand2Hand, specialized in upper limb orthoses with a subspecialization in hypermobility. Since 2019, Nathalie regularly speaks on hypermobility, both for patients and healthcare professionals, and is also a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences Ghent and the Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, where she shares her expertise with future healthcare providers.