A DeQuervain's Brace Highly Recommend By An Expert: The Hely & Weber deQ Thumb Orthosis

If you have DeQuervain's tenosynovitis (pain at your wrist where it meets the thumb) then you might have heard or read that you should wear a brace (also called a splint). If you haven't, what rock have you been hiding under?! I kid, I kid!

Seriously though, wearing a brace is a very important part of getting better because it forces the injured tendons to rest (because how else can we force our hands to rest?!) which is necessary in recovering.

But with all the braces for DeQuervain's out there which do you choose?!

And that's where I come in!

Hi my name is Rose and I am an Orthopedic Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist, practicing for 20+ years. I specialize in treating injuries of the hands to the shoulders. My goal is to make it infinitely easier to get effective solutions so you can go back to living the life you want!!

As a clinician, when I am searching for a "great" brace for DeQuervain's, I am assessing first whether it meets the mechanical/anatomical needs for the thumb and wrist to recover.

These requirements for the brace are: it has a thumb component (meaning it covers/includes the thumb as well), it covers from the thumb to the first third of the forearm and it restricts thumb and wrist movement (but it does not need to completely stop movement).

Additionally though when I am searching for that "great" brace, I am also thinking of you (as a good clinician should).

I am assessing and considering whether it is designed in a way that will increase the likeliness of you wearing it.

That is, it must be comfortable, easy to use and low-profile (not bulky).

Because it doesn't matter if it is a "great" brace to me, if it doesn't have these qualities then you won't wear it and, well, it's game over.

Another reason I like the Hely & Weber deQ Thumb Orthosis is that the material of the brace is made of neoprene-such a nice difference from traditional braces! Traditional braces are typically made from polyester and foam and typically are bulky. All in all, they are not comfortable nor pretty. The Hely & Weber's neoprene makes the brace soft, light and NOT BULKY! Neoprene, for alot of individuals, feels like a hug and, additionally, clients love that this brace does not look monstrous on their hand/wrist/forearm!

Additionally, the neoprene helps to make the brace not feel as restrictive, again, compared to other braces. Trust me though, it still accomplishes the job! The neoprene may make you feel like you're less restricted, but the metal bars still hold the thumb and wrist in place to help the tendons to heal.

Finally, I like that the deQ brace is very user-friendly! It's very hard to put it on the wrong way (which I've seen clients in the past do with other braces!) and it can be used on either hand! Now I know there are those who are hesistant about designs like this-"what works for all, works for no one", but in this case it really does work! This dual-sides ability is great because I have worked with many clients who have had DeQuervain's in both hands. Sometimes it was at the same time, but more often the pain would alternate between hands. Having one brace that can be used on both hands saves money. And who doesn't want that?!

One last thing I'd like to mention about this brace that likely won't matter to you but matters hugely to me is that one of the members of the team that designed the deQ Thumb Orthoside is a highly esteemed and successful hand surgeon (Dr. Roy Meals, MD) whom I have had the pleasure to meet and learn from. He not only knows his stuff but is such a sweet man! But, again, I'm sure that doesn't matter to you. What should matter, however, is that this brace was designed with the knowledge and input from an expert who knows DeQuervain's inside and out! Win-win!

What a relief to find the Hely & Weber deQ Thumb Orthosis! It has become a favorite of mine and for so many different reasons!

Of course, it checks all the mechanical/anatomical requirements. This is non-negotiable!

But even just as important, it checks your requirements: comfortable, not bulky and easy to use! That, hopefully, will encourage YOU to wear it and be that much closer to recovery.

The Hely & Weber deQ Thumb Orthosis

The top reason I like the Hely & Weber deQ Thumb Orthosis is that it has incorporated a very important detail that unfortunately not alot of other DeQuervain's brace designers think of: to make sure that the brace, or more specifically, the metal piece (called the stay) DOES NOT PUT DIRECT PRESSURE ON THE TENDER SPOT! Now that might seem like such a "no-brainer", but guess what?! Alot of DeQuervain's braces do strangely have that design flaw. By the way, the metal piece/pieces/bar/stay in a DeQuervain's brace is needed! It helps limit movement at the thumb and wrist which is necessary to rest the injured tendons. With the Hely &Weber deQ brace, the metal pieces/bars surround the injured area instead of being placed over it. Thank goodness! The metal pieces/bars also help to keep the straps from putting too much direct pressure too.

Why is it so great?

Therefore...

I am truly so excited to be able to recommend the Hely & Weber deQ Thumb Orthosis to my clients. It is, honestly, a relief also. In the past I have had to exhaustingly help clients search for a brace that checks all the above, trying one after another, only to end up with one that the client settles for.

Like I said, the brace is a very important part of your recovery. But I also understand that if it doesn't feel comfortable (maybe it even causes more pain!), is bulky and not easy to use, you're not going to use it. Heck, I wouldn't either.

But before you give up on your search for a great brace, give this brace a try! It will give change your perspective (and experience) on having to wear a brace for your DeQuervain's recovery!