Radial nerve palsy causes wrist drop, so the goal is to support the wrist in a position that still allows finger movement and functional grip. A cock-up splint achieves this by holding the wrist in slight extension while keeping the fingers free to move. This extended-wrist position optimizes the length-tension relationships of the hand muscles, enabling use of the intact finger flexors and thumb for grasp and pinch despite weakness in finger extension. It provides stability at the wrist without immobilizing the fingers, which is ideal for restoring functional activity after radial nerve injury. Other splints either immobilize the thumb (thumb spica), immobilize the ulnar digits (ulnar gutter), or keep the hand in a more neutral resting position (resting hand splint) and don’t specifically address extending the wrist to facilitate finger movement, making them less suitable for radial nerve palsy.

Screening for carpal tunnel relies on provocative tests that reproduce symptoms in the median nerve distribution. Phalen's test is performed by having the patient hold the wrists in full flexion to compress the carpal tunnel; if numbness or tingling develops in the thumb, index, or middle finger, it supports median nerve compression. Tinel's sign involves tapping over the carpal tunnel; elicited tingling in the same median nerve areas indicates irritation consistent with carpal tunnel syndrome. Using both tests together is common because they are quick, noninvasive, and directly assess median nerve involvement in the carpal tunnel. The other options target different conditions—Finkelstein test checks for De Quervain's tenosynovitis, and Froment's sign assesses ulnar nerve palsy affecting the thumb—so they’re not standard screening tests for carpal tunnel.

The Roos test is used to provoke symptoms by placing the arms in a position that narrow the thoracic outlet, where the neurovascular bundle passes between the clavicle, first rib, and surrounding muscles. A positive result—reproduction of numbness, tingling, fatigue, or even changes in color or strength in the arm—points to thoracic outlet syndrome, indicating compression in that space. This distinguishes it from other entrapments: cubital tunnel syndrome involves the elbow ulnar nerve, pronator syndrome affects the median nerve near the pronator teres, and carpal tunnel syndrome involves the median nerve at the wrist. Because the test specifically stresses the thoracic outlet region, it best indicates thoracic outlet syndrome.

When range of motion is nearly adequate for daily tasks but pain limits performance, the primary focus of OT intervention is enabling independence through ADL Modifications and adaptive strategies. The idea is to reduce the functional impact of pain by altering how tasks are performed and by using assistive devices, ergonomic changes, and pacing to protect the joints and conserve energy. In bilateral adhesive capsulitis, this means teaching and implementing dressing, grooming, cooking, and other activities in ways that minimize overhead reaching, painful shoulder motions, and rapid or forceful movements, while staying within a comfortable range of motion. Using built-up utensils, front-opening clothing, long-handled gear, reachers, and positioning strategies helps the patient complete tasks with less pain and greater autonomy, which is the chief goal when ROM is functionally sufficient but pain is the limiting factor. Modalities, targeted stretching, and injections address other aspects (pain relief, inflammation, or ROM gain) and are typically considered secondary to maintaining functional independence in OT practice. Rest, ice, elevation, and compression presume an inflammatory or acute SAMPLEphase focus, which isn’t the daily functional objective when the goal is to perform ADLs with minimal pain.