Written by Mavis Tham, Shamaine Soh and Yuna Zhuang, Principal Hand Occupational Therapists at Phoenix Rehab.Clinically reviewed by Nigel Chua, Founder and Clinical Director, Registered Occupational Therapist, AHPC A1300362Z.Last reviewed 3 October 2026.
A wrist splint holds your wrist, thumb or fingers in a set position so an injured or irritated tissue can settle or heal. The right splint depends on the condition. A carpal tunnel splint keeps the wrist straight, a De Quervain’s splint holds the thumb as well as the wrist, and a mallet finger splint keeps the fingertip straight day and night.
Many people do well with a ready-made brace from a pharmacy, as long as they choose the right type. Others need a custom splint, molded by a hand occupational therapist to fit the hand and the injury.
This page explains the difference between a brace and a splint, which splint suits which condition, how long to wear it, and how to look after it.
At Phoenix Rehab Group, our hand therapists assess your hand first, then mold a thermoplastic splint in the same appointment, in about 30 to 60 minutes. You do not need a doctor’s referral. If a ready-made brace is not helping, or your condition needs an exact position, schedule a splint assessment.
CUSTOM THERMOPLASTIC SPLINTING AT A GLANCE
| What a splint does | Holds a joint in a set position to rest, protect or support it |
| Ready-made brace | Fits many hands (generic so wont fit well); suits short-term, mild problems when you pick the right type |
| Custom thermoplastic splinting | Molded to your hand from thermoplastic; holds the exact position your condition needs |
| Who makes it | Hand therapists: occupational therapists and physiotherapists with hand therapy training |
| Time to make | About 30 to 60 minutes, often in the first appointment |
| Common uses | Carpal tunnel, De Quervain’s, thumb arthritis, mallet finger, finger sprains, trigger finger, after fractures and surgery |
| Fees | From $100 for a finger splint to $450 for a shoulder splint, by size and complexity. Full list below |
WHAT DOES WRIST SPLINT DO?
A splint does one or more of these jobs:
- Rests an irritated tendon. A thumb spica stops the thumb tendons rubbing through their tunnel in De Quervain’s.
- Takes pressure off a nerve. A wrist held straight keeps pressure in the carpal tunnel low, which eases carpal tunnel symptoms at night.
- Protects healing tissue. A fingertip held straight lets a torn tendon reattach in mallet finger; a removable splint protects a healing fracture once the cast is off.
- Supports a painful joint. A thumb orthosis steadies an arthritic thumb base during pinch and grip.
- Stretches a stiff joint. Serial splints, adjusted every week or two, gain movement in a stiff finger or elbow over time.
Splints work better alongside load changes and exercise than on their own. Wearing any splint for longer than your condition needs weakens the muscles and stiffens the joints it holds.
WRIST SPLINT VS WRIST BRACE: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE IN SINGAPORE?
People use the words brace and splint for the same thing, but they do very different jobs.
| Brace | Ready-made splint (pre-fabricated semi generic) | Custom splint (orthosis) | |
| Material | Neoprene or elastic, sometimes with a metal stay | Plastic or aluminum with padding | Thermoplastic molded to your hand, finger, wrist, elbow |
| What it does | Supports and compresses; allows some movement | Holds a joint in a standard position | Holds the exact position your condition needs |
| Fit | Standard sizes | Standard sizes | Custom made for your hand, trimmed around bony points |
| Adjustable | Straps only | Limited | Your therapist reshapes it as swelling changes |
| Suits | Short-term support for mild strains and sprains | Some mild conditions, if the angle is right | Conditions that need a set angle, longer wear, or an unusual hand size |
WHICH SPLINT FOR WHICH CONDITIONS?
| Condition | Splint | Typical wear pattern | Read more |
| Carpal tunnel syndrome | Wrist splint that holds the wrist straight | At night, and during tasks that bring on tingling, for 6 to 8 weeks | Carpal tunnel syndrome |
| De Quervain’s tenosynovitis | Forearm-based thumb spica | Most of the day for 3 to 6 weeks | De Quervain’s |
| Base of thumb arthritis | Hand-based thumb orthosis | For heavy tasks and at night during flares | Thumb joint pain |
| Finger arthritis | Small finger splints or a night resting splint | At night or during flares | Finger arthritis |
| Trigger finger | Splint that stops the knuckle at the base of the finger bending all the way | At night, and by day if it helps, for 6 to 10 weeks | Trigger finger |
| Mallet finger | Fingertip splint holding the end joint straight | 24 hours a day for 6 to 8 weeks, then at night for a few more weeks | See below |
| Finger sprains, volar plate and central slip injuries | Buddy straps, extension-block or straight finger splints | As your therapist advises, often 2 to 6 weeks | Finger sprain |
| Wrist sprain | Short-term wrist brace | 1 to 2 weeks for mild sprains | Wrist sprain |
| Wrist fracture | Removable splint after the cast, when your surgeon agrees | As your surgeon advises | Wrist fracture |
| TFCC injury | Support for the little-finger side of the wrist | During grip and twisting tasks | TFCC |
| Skier’s thumb | Thumb splint | As advised, often 4 to 6 weeks | Sprained thumb |
| After hand surgery | Protective or dynamic splints | Per your surgeon’s protocol | Post-surgery rehabilitation |
| Stiff joints | Serial static or static progressive splints | Set periods each day, as your therapist advises |
MALLET FINGER SPLINTING
Mallet finger happens when the tendon that straightens the fingertip tears, or pulls off a small piece of bone. The fingertip droops and you cannot straighten it on your own. It often follows a ball striking the fingertip, or a fingertip catching while you tuck in a bedsheet or pull on a sock.
See a doctor for an X-ray first. A bone fragment, or a joint that has slipped out of line, may need a hand surgeon. Most mallet fingers heal in a splint.
The rule that decides the result. The fingertip must stay straight 24 hours a day for 6 to 8 weeks, then in the splint at night for a further 2 to 4 weeks. If the tip bends during the full-time period, the healing tendon can stretch or pull apart, and your therapist may restart the splinting period. Splinting also helps when you seek treatment a few weeks after the injury, so late is still worth treating.
Changing and cleaning the splint. Rest the finger flat on a table, slide the splint off, and keep the fingertip pressed flat against the table while you clean and dry the skin. Slide the splint back on without lifting the tip. Ask your therapist to show you before you try it at home.
Ready-made or custom? Pharmacy “stack” splints come in fixed sizes and can slip or press on the skin. A custom thermoplastic splint holds the fingertip at the angle your injury needs, fits a swollen finger, and your therapist adjusts it as the swelling settles. White patches on the skin over the back of the finger mean the splint is pressing too hard and needs adjusting.
CHOOSING READY-MADE BRACES FROM THE PHARMACY IN SINGAPORE
Many ready-made braces sold in Singapore pharmacies work well when you match the brace to the problem.
- For carpal tunnel syndrome, choose a brace that holds the wrist straight. Many wrist braces tilt the wrist back 20 to 30 degrees, which suits sprains and raises pressure on the nerve. A hand therapist can check or adjust the angle.
- For De Quervain’s, choose a brace labelled “thumb spica” or “thumb stabiliser” that holds the thumb and the wrist. A wrist brace that leaves the thumb free does little for this condition.
- For a mild wrist sprain, a basic wrist brace with a firm support on the palm side helps for 1 to 2 weeks.
- For trigger finger, many pharmacy splints hold the middle or end joint of the finger. The splint with the most support blocks the knuckle at the base of the finger.
- For mallet finger, a stack splint can hold the tip straight, if it fits well and the tip stays straight at all times. A hand therapist can check the fit.
WRIST GUARDS, WRIST BANDS AND SPORTS TAPING FOR WRIST PAINS OR SPRAINS
Three other supports sit on the same pharmacy and sports-shop shelves. Each has a narrow job.
- Wrist guards. Skating and snowboard guards have a stiff plate on the palm side to protect a healthy wrist in a fall. They are not designed to treat a sprain or a tendon problem, and a guard that holds the wrist bent back can raise pressure on the nerve in carpal tunnel syndrome.
- Wrist bands. A compression band that wraps the wrist above the wrist bones supports the little-finger side of the wrist during gripping and weight-bearing. It suits a TFCC injury on return to sport or the gym, and does little for pain on the thumb side.
- KT tape. Kinesiology tape is light and lets the wrist move. The evidence for it in wrist pain is limited, and some people find it helps on the return to sport. It does not replace a splint when the tissue needs rest.
Switch to a custom splint if the brace digs in, slips, holds the wrong joint, does not fit a small or large hand, or you need to wear it for weeks.
HOW MANY HOURS A DAY SHOULD I WEAR A WRIST SPLINT?
Honestly and clinically – the answer depends on the condition. Our hand occupational therapist gives you a schedule; these are the common patterns.
| Wear pattern | Used for | Typical schedule |
| Night only | Carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, some arthritis | Every night, often for 6 to 10 weeks |
| Most of the day | De Quervain’s, early after some injuries | Day and night except for hygiene and exercises, for 3 to 6 weeks |
| Around the clock | Mallet finger, some tendon and fracture injuries | 24 hours a day, often for 6 to 8 weeks |
| Task-based | Thumb and finger arthritis, TFCC injuries | During heavy or painful tasks only |
| Set periods for stiffness | Stiff fingers, wrists and elbows | Timed appointments each day, as your therapist sets |
Most schedules end with a weaning phase, when you wear the splint less each week as your strength and movement return.
HOW OUR HAND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS MAKE YOUR CUSTOM THERMOPLASTIC SPLINT AT PHOENIX REHAB PHYSIO & HAND
Splints are made by our hand occupational therapists, Mavis Tham, Shamaine Soh, Yuna Zhuang and Nurul Nadzirah, at every Phoenix clinic. Each is registered with the Allied Health Professions Council, and they trained in Singapore’s hospital hand therapy departments, alongside the hand surgeons who refer into them.
A custom splint is a treatment, so it starts with an assessment:
- Assessment. We examine your hand, confirm the condition and decide the position the splint needs to hold.
- Measurement and pattern. We draw a pattern around your hand and forearm.
- Molding. We soften a sheet of thermoplastic in warm water and shape it on your hand in the correct position.
- Finishing. We trim the edges, add straps and padding, and smooth any points that press.
- Fit check. We check the splint on your hand for pressure points and adjust it.
- Teaching. You learn your wear schedule, skin checks, cleaning, and the exercises to do out of the splint.
- Review. At follow-up, we adjust the splint as swelling changes and your condition improves.
Most custom splints take about 30 to 60 minutes to make, in the same appointment as your assessment. A splint that fits in weeks 1 to 2 may not fit by week 4, because the swelling has gone down, so we resize and reshape it at your reviews.
Contact us for a splint assessment. WhatsApp us or schedule an assessment online.
SPLINT FEES
| Splint | Fee, nett |
| Finger or toe | $100 |
| Palm or hand | $200 |
| Wrist, forearm or face | $300 |
| Elbow or knee | $350 |
| Ankle foot orthosis (AFO) | $350 |
| Shoulder or body | $450 |
| Dynamic splint (with moving parts) | The fee above, plus $100 |
The splint fee is on top of the appointment it is made in: $230 per 45-minute appointment, nett, no GST. Your therapist tells you which splint you need, and its fee, before it is made.
HOW TO WEAR AND CARE FOR YOUR SPLINT
- Keep it away from heat. Thermoplastic softens and warps with heat. Do not leave it in a car parked in the Singapore sun, near a stove, or in hot water.
- Clean it with cool water and mild soap, then let it air dry.
- Manage sweat. A thin cotton liner under the splint absorbs sweat. Dry your skin before you put the splint back on.
- Check your skin. Red marks that last more than 30 minutes after you remove the splint mean it needs adjusting. Blisters, numbness or color changes mean you should remove it and contact us.
- Keep straps snug, not tight. You should be able to slide a finger under each strap.
- Leave reshaping to your therapist. Heating or cutting the splint at home can ruin its fit.
- Do your exercises. Unless your splint is for 24-hour wear, move the joints your therapist lists, so they do not stiffen.
MISTAKES OFTEN MADE WITH SPLINTS AND BRACES
- Choosing a brace that holds the wrong joint. A wrist brace does not help De Quervain’s, and a finger splint on the wrong joint does not help trigger finger.
- Wearing a night splint all day for weeks. Longer is not better; it weakens the muscles.
- Letting a mallet finger bend “for a second”. One bend during the full-time period can set the tendon back.
- Over-tightening the straps. Tight straps cause swelling, numbness and pressure marks.
- Leaving the splint in a hot car. It warps and stops fitting.
- Using a sprain brace for carpal tunnel. The tilted angle raises pressure on the nerve.
LIST OF SPLINTS OUR HAND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS HAVE MADE (not exhaustive, there may be more unlisted)
Finger Splinting
- Mallet Splint
- Proximal Interphalangeal Joint Dorsal Blocking Splint
- Anti-trigger Finger Splint (single digit or multiple)
- Finger Gutter Extension Splint
- Anti-Boutonniere Splint
- Anti-Swan Neck Splint
Hand splints
- Resting Hand Splint
- Night Extension Splint
- Dupuytren’s Splint
- Ulnar Gutter Splint (Interphalangeal joints free and included)
- Radial Gutter Splint (Interphalangeal joints free and included)
- Short Opponens Splint
- Metacarpalphalangeal Blocking Splint
- Thumb Spica (Short)
FOREARM SPLINTS
- Wrist Splint (traditional resting brace)
- Wrist Splint (Clamshell piece)
- Wrist Splint (Flexion splint)
- Wrist Splint (Extension splint)
- Forearm Gutter Splint
- Forearm Based Thumb Spica
- Ulnar Gutter Splint (Interphalangeal joints, free and included)
- Radial Gutter Splint (Interphalangeal joints, free and included)
- Dorsal Blocking Splint
- Metacarpalphalangeal (MCPJ) Blocking Splint
- Muenster / Sugar Tong Splint for TFCC and other wrist injuries
- Delta Cast Gauntlet
- De Quervain / Mummy’s Thumb Splint
- Carpal Tunnel Splint
- Thumb Spica (Long / Wrist Based)
- TFCC Splint
- Scaphoid Fracture Splint
- Scapho-lunate Ligament Injury Splint
ELBOW SPLINTING
- Posterior Elbow Splint (Thermoplastic and Delta Cast)
- Anterior Elbow Extension Splint
- Static Progressive Elbow Flexion Splint
- Static Progressive Elbow Extension Splint
KNEE SPLINTS
- Knee extension splint
- Knee flexion splint
ANKLE SPLINTS
- Ankle foot orthosis (AFO) – regular resting version
- Ankle foot orthosis (AFO) – dynamic version for walking
TOES SPLINT
- Buddy splinting
- Hallux valgus splinting
- Toe extension splinting
WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR?
See a doctor on the same day if:
- you cannot bend your fingertip after catching it on a shirt or ball (possible tendon avulsion that needs a surgeon within days)
- a finger or wrist looks crooked after an injury
- fingers turn pale, blue, cold or numb in a splint or cast; remove a removable splint at once
- skin under the splint blisters, breaks down or shows signs of infection
Make an appointment with a doctor or hand therapist soon if:
- a fingertip droops after an injury (mallet finger needs an X-ray)
- your splint is not easing symptoms after 2 to 3 weeks
- pain or numbness is getting worse despite the splint
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WRIST, HAND AND FINGER SPLINTS
What does a wrist splint do?
A wrist splint holds the wrist, and sometimes the thumb or fingers, in a set position so irritated or injured tissue can rest and heal. It can take pressure off a nerve in carpal tunnel syndrome, rest the thumb tendons in De Quervain’s, protect a healing fracture or ligament, and support a painful arthritic joint. Splints work better alongside load changes and exercise than on their own.
When should you wear wrist splints?
Wear a wrist splint on the schedule your condition needs. For carpal tunnel syndrome, that means at night and during tasks that bring on tingling. For De Quervain’s, it means most of the day for 3 to 6 weeks. For a mild sprain, wear a brace for 1 to 2 weeks. For arthritis, wear it during heavy tasks. A hand therapist sets the schedule and the weaning plan.
How many hours a day should I wear a wrist splint?
It depends on the condition. Carpal tunnel splints go on at night, often for 6 to 8 weeks. De Quervain’s splints stay on most of the day for 3 to 6 weeks, apart from hygiene and exercises. Mallet finger splints stay on 24 hours a day for 6 to 8 weeks. Arthritis splints go on for heavy tasks. Wearing a splint for longer than needed stiffens joints and weakens muscles.
What is the difference between a wrist brace and a wrist splint?
A wrist brace is soft or semi-rigid, made of neoprene or elastic, and supports the wrist while allowing some movement. A wrist splint is rigid and holds the wrist in a set position. A custom splint is molded from thermoplastic to your hand and holds the exact angle your condition needs. Braces suit mild, short-term problems; splints suit conditions that need a fixed position.
How long do I wear a mallet finger splint?
Wear a mallet finger splint 24 hours a day for 6 to 8 weeks, keeping the fingertip straight the whole time, including when you clean the finger. Then wear it at night for a further 2 to 4 weeks. If the fingertip bends during the full-time period, your therapist may restart the count. See a doctor for an X-ray first, because some mallet injuries with a bone fragment need a surgeon.
Which wrist support is good for De Quervain’s?
Choose a thumb spica: a support that holds both the wrist and the thumb, labelled “thumb spica” or “thumb stabiliser”. A standard wrist brace that leaves the thumb free does little for De Quervain’s. If a ready-made thumb spica presses on the tender bump at the base of the thumb or slips, a hand therapist can mold a custom splint for you.
Is a wrist guard, wrist band or KT tape good for wrist pain?
It depends on where the wrist hurts. A wrist band that wraps above the wrist bones supports the little-finger side and suits a TFCC injury during sport. KT tape gives light support while you move, with limited evidence behind it. A skating wrist guard protects a healthy wrist in a fall and is not designed to treat an injury. For a sprain, De Quervain’s or carpal tunnel syndrome, a brace or splint that holds the right joint works better.
How much does a custom splint cost in Singapore?
The fee depends on the type and size of the splint and on the assessment it needs. Splints are priced by size: $100 for a finger or toe, $200 for the palm or hand, $300 for the wrist, forearm or face, $350 for the elbow, knee or an ankle foot orthosis, and $450 for the shoulder or body, plus $100 for a dynamic splint. The splint is made in a $230 appointment. Many insurers reimburse splints as part of outpatient therapy; check your policy and ask us for an itemised invoice.
Do I need a doctor’s referral for a custom splint in Singapore?
No. You can see a hand therapist at Phoenix Rehab Group for a splint without a doctor’s referral. If your injury needs an X-ray, such as a mallet finger or a possible fracture, we refer you to a doctor and share our findings. Some insurers ask for a doctor’s referral before they reimburse therapy, so check your policy first.
Contact us for a splint assessment
If a ready-made brace is not helping, or your condition needs an exact position, a hand therapist can assess your hand and mold a splint that fits.
If the fingertip itself will not straighten, the tendon that lifts it is the likely culprit and the splinting is time critical. See the Mallet Finger Recovery Program, which sets out the four stages and what moves you up.
Where are you with this right now?
1. It is settling on its own
Many hand problems settle with a well fitted splint, changes to what provokes them, and tendon gliding. A tender scar and weak grip for a few weeks after surgery are usual. If it is easing week on week, and grip is improving month on month, it is behaving as expected. You do not need us for this, and we would rather say so.
2. It has stopped improving
You hand the jar to someone else. You button the shirt one-handed. You have stopped using that hand for anything that matters and barely noticed when it started.
The hand is the part of the body where stiffness sets in fastest, because a hand that hurts gets used less within days rather than weeks. That is the gap worth measuring, and it is not measured by how you feel on the day.
The Stalled Recovery Review is three appointments over three weeks with the same therapist, because what a joint does under load cannot be read in one visit. The first finds what is limiting it. The next two measure how it responds. $690, nett, no GST, which is three appointments at $230.
3. You have had surgery, or you have a date
Recovery after an operation has a shape, and knowing which stage you are in tells you whether you are on it. See the recovery programs, or hand therapy after surgery if you are not sure which applies to you.
All of it runs on the same four stages. The Phoenix Recovery Protocol explains what each stage works on and what you have to meet to move up. No referral needed to start.
Next step
Find out which stage you are in
Pain is the first thing to leave. Movement and strength are the last things trained back, and most people stop before that part is done. One Assessment and Treatment is a single 45-minute appointment at $230, nett, no GST. Your therapist finds what is actually limiting you, treats it in the same appointment, and you leave with your current stage and a written plan.
Prefer to phone? Each of our five clinics has its own number on the clinics page. No referral needed to book.
Related reading
- hand therapy after surgery
- carpal tunnel
- Golf wrist injuries and hand physiotherapy
- What is a sprained thumb?
- Hand Occupational Therapist Singapore | Phoenix Rehab Group
- The Phoenix Recovery Protocol, and the four stages
- All recovery programs, hand and physio
- Patient Reviews, Phoenix Rehab Physio & Hand Therapy
- Hand Therapy Singapore
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