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We know hands are central to how people live, work, and connect with the world. Hand therapists support independence, helping their patients button a shirt again, hold a loved one’s hand, return to work, or play an instrument they love.
For over 50 years, Rolyan has supported better outcomes for hand therapy patients worldwide. Thank you to the clinicians who have trusted Rolyan as their reliable and innovative hand therapy partner for half a century.
The Origins of Rolyan
Rolyan started as a small family business when an occupational therapist shared an idea with her engineer husband. She believed a low-temperature thermoplastic splint material that was more conformable than what was available at the time would revolutionize the industry. In 1975, they created Rolyan and introduced Polyform™, one of the first polycaprolactone-based, low-temperature splinting materials.
Rolyan’s Contributions to Hand Therapy Innovation
Rolyan started as a small family business when an occupational therapist shared an idea with her engineer husband. She believed a low-temperature thermoplastic splint material that was more conformable than what was available at the time would revolutionize the industry. In 1975, they created Rolyan and introduced Polyform™, one of the first polycaprolactone-based, low-temperature splinting materials.
After introducing Polyform in 1975, Rolyan has continued to expand its thermoplastic splinting material portfolio, partnering with hand and occupational therapists in creating unique materials that meet their needs.
Today our thermoplastic splinting assortment includes 11 materials across a spectrum of conformabilities and resistance to stretch to best fit the needs of patients and the splint they need.
- Polyform™ - The only Rolyan splint material that has a minimum resistance to stretch but maximum rigidity when cool, for intricate splints that won’t deform.
- ProDrape™ - Part of the Aquaplast family, the only Rolyan splinting material group that has 100% memory and turns translucent when heated. ProDrape is more conformable than the other materials in the Aquaplast family.
- Polyflex II™ - Flexible enough when cooled to directly resist stress fatigue and cracks making it an ideal choice for splints used in heavy work environments
- CuraDrape™ - Despite having high conformability, CuraDrape has a significantly lower drape than other Rolyan materials, giving you full control when molding splints
- TailorSplint™ - The most versatile Rolyan splinting material without any characteristic extremes, making it excellent for both novice and expert clinicans
- Aquaplast™ - The “original” in this key material family, like the rest of the family, it has 100% memory and is translucent when heated. Unlike others in the family, Aquaplast is non-coated.
- Aquaplast-T™ - Like the rest of the Aquaplast family, it has 100% memory and turns transparent when heated. However, Aquaplast-T has a non-stick coating.
- Watercolors™ - Similar to Aquaplast-T with 100% memory, a non-stick coating, and turning translucent when heated, Watercolors are available in a wide range of colors from brights to metallics.
- Ezeform™ - The only Rolyan splinting material that has a high resistance to stretch, but also offers moderate conformability and drape, allowing you to create large but intricate splints.
- Resilient™ - Also, part of the Aquaplast family, featuring 100% memory and transparency when heated. However, Resilient provides additional resistance to stretch, as compared to the rest of the Aquaplast family.
- Synergy™ - Provides the highest molding control of any of the Rolyan splinting materials. It has a high resistance to stretch along with minimum conformability and drape, giving the clinician full control of the fabrication, with no loss of rigidity if reheated and reshaped repeatedly.
Made in the USA, Trusted Worldwide
Rolyan thermoplastics are proudly self-manufactured in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. For 50 years, our commitment to American-made quality and craftsmanship has ensured therapists have access to a broad range of trusted materials across a spectrum of handling and performance characteristics. Today, these materials are used by therapists around the world, a true reflection of the skill and care of our dedicated manufacturing team. Thank you for playing such an important role in supporting the recovery of patients and the advancement of hand therapy everywhere.
Loved by Hand Therapists
Rolyan Thermoplastic Splinting Sheets
Our thermoplastics get rave reviews from the clinicians who use them.
POLYFORM
Most conformable thermoplastic
"Ranked as the most conforming thermoplastic Rolyan produces, Polyform is beneficial for use with anatomy requiring an intimate thermoplastic fit, including fingers, hands, and cervical/neck splinting. It contours well and will accommodate for bony prominences while reducing the risk of skin breakdown."
~Dr. Kirsten Davin, OTD, OTR/L, ATP, SMS
EZEFORM
Rolyan Ezeform Thermoplastic
"Great quality product that we have been ordering for the past several years. Thanks!"
~Nicole Z.
In addition to our line of thermoplastic sheets, precuts, and preforms. Rolyan offers a wide variety of splinting tools and accessories from padding and strapping to hand exercise products. Here are some of our new additions and old favorites from over the years.
Rolyan Therapy Putty
Starting with a hand therapist favorite, Rolyan Therapy Putty comes in six color-coded progressive resistances and a wide array of sizes from 2 oz to 5 pounds. The putty is great for improving grip and strengthening fine motor skills with pinches, twists, grip strength exercises, and stretches. Rolyan
Temper Foam R-Lite Foam Blocks
These foam blocks are another popular choice for hand therapy. With four resistance levels, they are a great choice for pinch and squeeze exercises.
ROLYAN THERAPY PUTTY
Get yellows and tans
"There is a revolving door of hand cases, so low resistance manual strengthening is what I consistently do. The yellow and tan putty is something that almost all patients can do no matter their experience."
~Natalie F.
ROLYAN FOAM BLOCKS
Great for OT
"We use them for hand therapy. Gripping and OA program."
~Nichole P.
Rolyan Standard and Smart Splint Baths
The Rolyan Splint Bath is a newer addition to Rolyan’s offering. The auto on/off preheats water in less than 30 minutes. This modern, easy to use splint bath also comes in a Smart version that offers dual disinfection and preset and customizable temps for your materials.
ROLYAN SMART SPLINT BATH
Smart Splint Bath
"Finally, there’s a product designed from the ground up to be a splint bath! I especially like the ability to create a custom temperature setting for splint materials that have a higher resistance to stretch, such as Aquaplast T. The auto on/off feature lets you set the time that you need the bath turned on in the morning, so there is no waiting for it to heat. Walk in the door, and it’s ready to go! It’s a great time saver, and the right tool to do the job right. "
~Bruce O.
How Rolyan Helps Make a Difference
In 2022, Michelle Rogers OTR/L, CHT and her team were able to participate in a humanitarian trip to Armenia and took Rolyan products donated by Performance Health to those in need. During the trip they saw many adults, wounded soldiers, children, and the doctors & nurses in multiple villages.
During the trip, they conducted home and clinic visits, assisting people such as a wounded soldier who was able to walk without crutches for the first time after they utilized splinting material and foam padding to make a shoe insert. They also made a soft splint with a foam roll cover, Velcro and straps for a 16-year-old with CP to sleep in. For several others they used foam tubing on handles of “canes” which were pipes wrapped with tape or chair parts.
At the end of the trip all the extra supplies were left in Armenia, and the staff was educated on how to use them with their patients.
In 2023, Nina Healy, a hand therapist in Denver, Colorado volunteered her time and expertise to communities in Nepal over several trips to help those who really need it. Performance Health donated Rolyan supplies for this trip as well.
During her time there, Nina treated injuries such as burn scars and hand injuries, assisting and teaching local therapists new techniques. She even ran a splinting workshop with local therapists where they were able to practice their skills and help rehabilitate a hand injury on a young man.
Nina also went on medical trips to Bangladesh and India also equipped with more Rolyan supplies donated by Performance Health. With the donated materials, Nina was able to conduct the following treatments:
- Use splinting material to fabricate a neck collar after a neck contracture release due to a burn.
- Construct a long leg splint used to maintain immobilization after skin grafting.
- Treat bilateral lower leg burns on a young girl and conduct a splinting process to maintain position following contracture release and skin grafts.
- Assist a patient with multiple burn contracture releases and the splinting that was used.
- Help a patient who was burned as a child, who ended up with an elbow contracture that caused no elbow extension for 25 years. The contracture was released as much as possible, and the splint was fabricated to prevent recurrence after release and skin grafting.
It is amazing to see our products in action helping people around the world.
Celebrating the Hand Therapy Community
Rolyan is proud to partner with leading clinicians like Bruce Curtis, OT in the U.S., and Nicola Goldsmith, MSc, SROT in the UK, to advance education through hands-on trainings and webinars. Rolyan’s presence at industry events such as AOTA, ASHT, and the Wisconsin Hand Experience reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting the hand therapy community, sharing knowledge and products to help shape the future of the profession together. Stop by our booth to connect with us in the future!
Additional Rolyan Resources
Learn more about Rolyan at performancehealth.com/rolyan-hand-therapy including:
- Our Rolyan Catalog
- How-To Guides
- Splinting Demo Videos
- A Clinical Guide
- Information on Top Products
- A look at Rolyan Thermoplastic Splinting Materials and our full range of products
Looking Ahead: The Future of Rolyan and Hand Therapy
Rolyan is committed to ongoing innovation and therapist collaboration to help advance the future of hand therapy. We look forward to engaging with the global hand therapy community in the decades to come.
Thank you for making Rolyan part of your practice! Together, we’re shaping the future of hand therapy.
