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Splints aren’t just for broken bones. They can also be used to protect and support weak or unstable joints in people with psoriatic arthritis. A splint immobilizes an affected joint, which helps to reduce pain and swelling and may help preserve function of the joint.

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory disease marked by swelling, stiffness, and pain in and around the joints, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. Treatment is aimed at reducing pain and inflammation and preventing lasting joint damage. In addition to taking your medication and working with a physical therapist, splinting affected joints can play a role in managing the condition.

What Is a Splint?

Splints come in many different forms, depending on their purpose. In general, a splint is a hard wrapping you wear over injured or inflamed joints. A splint is like a partial cast, and may be made of fiberglass or plaster. Or it could be a pre-made piece of hard metal or plastic surrounded by fabric. Splints also have a soft padding underneath to protect the skin, and Velcro straps so that they can be easily removed or adjusted.

You can buy some splints off the shelf, while others can be custom made, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. If your rheumatologist thinks you can benefit from a splint, you will probably be referred to a physical therapist or occupational therapist. Importantly, splints are not a do-it-yourself endeavor, says the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance. Custom splints should be properly made and off-the-shelf splints should be properly fitted by a trained professional.

Who May Benefit From a Splint?

Splinting is usually reserved for people who aren’t getting adequate relief from psoriatic arthritis medication and stretching exercises but are not ready for joint replacement surgery, says John Indalecio, OTR/L, CHT, MS, an occupational and certified hand therapist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. “We typically try stretching and range-of-motion exercises first, but splinting is helpful when a person is starting to lose function in the affected joints.”

How Do Splints Help?

In people with psoriatic arthritis, splints can offer support for weak joints and allow affected joints to rest in better alignment, according to the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance. This may reduce pain in the joints, but the goal is to preserve functional range of motion. “Yes, splints can also decrease pain, but it’s the function we are seeking to maintain,” Indalecio says.

With psoriatic arthritis, splints are mainly used for the fingers and the wrists, but they can also be used on knees and elbows, he adds.

“If people don’t have adequate relief from available medications, we can use a variety of splints to decrease motion and pain,” says David Pisetsky, MD, PhD, professor and chief of rheumatology at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, and president of the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative. “The main downside is that people don’t always like wearing splints. The good news is that the use of splints is way down because of earlier diagnoses of psoriatic arthritis and effective new medications that minimize joint damage.”

There can be some other downsides as well, Indalecio adds. “If the splint is custom made, the skills of the therapist can promote or limit success,” he says. “Splinting success is defined by maintaining proper positioning and avoiding positions of deformity."

Wearing a splint for too long can also lead to stiffness and muscle atrophy. To help prevent this, do some gentle wrist, finger, and thumb exercises to help tone your muscles and keep your joint from stiffening up. A physical or occupational therapist can recommend exercises for you to try.

“I tell my psoriatic arthritis patients to wear the splint at night for four to eight weeks, and then see how they do without it,” Indalecio says. “If they don’t lose motion or function after they stop wearing it, they can go without it, but they may need it again in the future.”

The Bottom Line

Splints are a short-term option to help manage symptoms of psoriatic arthritis and can be an important part of a comprehensive treatment plan for the condition. Before getting a splint, you should talk with your occupational or physical therapist to make sure you understand how the splint works and the goals of using it. Your therapist can explain when and how to wear the splint, make sure it’s fitted properly, and offer tips on taking care of it. Your splint should be checked regularly by your therapist and adjusted, if necessary.