Scleroderma is an autoimmune condition that affects the hands, leading to stiffness, swelling, and joint contractures. Skin tightening and collagen buildup limit hand function, making daily tasks difficult. Research highlights that early intervention with conservative management can help maintain hand function and slow disease progression.

The Metaflex Glove, offering strengthening, compression, heat retention, and passive digit stretching, aligns with these principles and is PDAC-approved for conservative hand therapy. Medical professionals can bill L-Code 3912, making it a reimbursable option for patients.

The Metaflex Glove Supports Scleroderma Management

Compression for Swelling Reduction

Swelling and fluid retention in the hands are common early symptoms of scleroderma. Persistent edema may not be visible to the naked eye and is a strong predictor of current and future disability.

The Metaflex Glove provides gentle compression to:

• Reduce swelling and fluid buildup.
• Prevent tissue hardening for better flexibility.
• Improve circulation, especially for those with Raynaud’s.

Research supports that compression therapy reduces swelling and pain, improving hand function. By maintaining consistent compression, the Metaflex Glove helps preserve finger mobility.

Passive Stretching to Prevent Contractures

Scleroderma often leads to joint contractures, especially in the proximal interphalangeal joints. Early, frequent stretching is essential for maintaining range of motion.

The Metaflex Glove’s built-in extension bands:

• Gently stretch fingers to maintain flexibility.
• Counteract flexion contractures, keeping fingers straighter.
• Encourage gradual extension, aiding in reaching in preparation for gripping and fine motor tasks.

Low-load, prolonged stretching is more effective than short, aggressive stretches. The Metaflex Glove provides gradual, sustained extension, making it ideal for scleroderma hand therapy.

Heat Retention for Soft Tissue Flexibility

Scleroderma patients often experience cold intolerance and stiffness, especially in the morning. Heat therapy enhances circulation and softens connective tissue, improving flexibility.

The Metaflex Glove’s fabric:

• Increases circulation, reducing Raynaud’s episodes.
• Softens the skin, enhancing stretching effectiveness.
• Provides warmth, easing stiffness and pain.

Studies show that combining heat with stretching significantly improves hand function. By keeping hands warm, the Metaflex Glove enhances compression and stretching benefits.

Grip Strengthening with Resisted Bands

Scleroderma can lead to weakness in the hands, affecting grip strength and daily function. Strengthening exercises are essential to maintaining hand dexterity and preventing loss of function.

The Metaflex Glove’s resisted bands:

• Provide resistance for grip strengthening exercises.
• Help improve finger flexor strength.
• Support functional hand use for gripping, pinching, and holding objects.
• Encourage active movement, complementing passive stretching and compression therapy.

Incorporating grip strengthening alongside stretching and compression ensures a more comprehensive approach to hand function preservation.

Billing the Metaflex Glove Under L-Code 3912

Reimbursement for Healthcare Providers

As of March 6, 2025, the Metaflex Glove is PDAC-approved, allowing therapists and medical professionals to bill L-Code 3912 for reimbursement.

How Providers Can Use L-Code 3912:

To bill L-codes, providers must have a valid National Provider Identifier (NPI) and be enrolled as Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers through Medicare or relevant third-party payers.

✔ Bill insurance, Medicare, or third-party payers for the Metaflex Glove. ✔ Provide custom fitting and training for effective use. ✔ Prescribe the glove as part of a comprehensive hand rehab program.

With insurance reimbursement, more patients can access the Metaflex Glove without financial barriers.

Using the HAMIS Assessment to Track Hand Function

The Hand Mobility in Scleroderma (HAMIS) assessment is a standardized tool used to evaluate hand function in individuals with scleroderma. It measures nine key movements, including finger flexion, extension, and thumb abduction, providing a quantifiable score that helps track progression and treatment effectiveness.

How HAMIS Supports Metaflex Glove Use

✔ Establishes a baseline for hand function before starting therapy. ✔ Monitors improvements in flexibility, grip strength, and range of motion. ✔ Guides therapy adjustments by identifying areas needing more targeted intervention. ✔ Demonstrates effectiveness of conservative treatments, including the Metaflex Glove.

Clinicians can use HAMIS scores alongside range-of-motion measurements and functional assessments to fine-tune treatment plans and support insurance reimbursement for therapeutic interventions like the Metaflex Glove.

Interested in incorporating the Metaflex Glove as part of a comprehensive care plan?

The Metaflex Glove is a clinically supported, insurance-covered tool for managing scleroderma hands. Get started today with MetaFlex! 

Sometimes the most impactful innovations come from observing the everyday struggles of those closest to us. For Téa Phillips, founder of ATS Innovations and inventor of the Metaflex glove, the journey from engineering student to medical device innovator began with watching her grandmother's hands.

The Personal Connection

"My grandma had really bad arthritis and I watched her lose her mobility," Phillips shares. This personal connection became more than just inspiration – it became her driving force. "That's why this felt so important to me to bring to market." The impact of watching a loved one lose their ability to do what they love created a deep sense of purpose that would carry her through the challenges ahead.

Engineering Solutions for Arthritis Pain

As a mechanical engineering student at Tennessee Tech University, Phillips discovered her opportunity to make a difference. "We found compression and grip strengthening were two of the most recommended therapies that were non-medicinal," she explains. "Like opioids, just a holistic way to manage pain. And compression was easy enough, but people weren't doing their grip strengthening exercises because it's burdensome and it's time consuming."

This insight led to a breakthrough idea: "We made a wearable grip strengthener that allows you to build that strength, build that mobility, flexibility, range of motion as you're going about your day." For those interested in learning more about hand health and mobility, Phillips' team has created comprehensive guides on topics like managing carpal tunnel syndrome and staying active in cold weather.

The bands mimic the placement of EXTENSOR tendons, that provide passive resistance against the flexion for strengthening. When used to stretch, the bands helps the fingers extend, which helps manage many pathologies that may help prevent or delay more invasive options. (Trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, dupuytren's, amongst many others). 

Understanding the Need For Compression Gloves

The innovation wasn't just about the technology – it was about creating a solution people would actually use. Phillips developed a device with:

* Resistance bands sewn into the fingertips that run the length of the fingers

* Natural hand motion design that mimics tendons

* Gentle resistance during hand closure to build strength during daily activities

* Compression features to help with circulation, pain, swelling, and stiffness

Learn how these features work together.

From Concept to Reality

Taking this concept from a university project to a market-ready product required more than just technical expertise. "I have something that I'm really passionate about and I have like a purpose and a reason for doing this," Phillips reflects. This sense of purpose drove her forward, even when facing challenges.

"This is the hardest job I've ever had," she admits candidly. "And I went to engineering school and got my way through that. And this is way more difficult because there's not a roadmap. Everybody is doing this differently and there's a million ways to do it."

Beyond the Original Vision

What started as a solution for arthritis has evolved far beyond its initial purpose. "We got it to market last year as a way to help people with arthritis and it's helped so many more people like atheletes and our users are using it in ways that I didn't expect," Phillips shares excitedly. "Like half of our users are using it to sleep to just keep their fingers extended during the night."

The impact has been profound. "I've got customers that say, 'Thank you. You changed my life. I can sleep at night. This is a miracle.' And it's kind of mind blowing to me to read those, but it's also like the fuel that keeps me going," she says. "If I hadn’t made something that was having such a big impact on people's lives, then I don't know if I'd still be on this journey."

The Power of Personal Connection in Innovation

Phillips' journey demonstrates how personal connection to a problem can drive innovative solutions. Instead of choosing an easier path – "I'd probably be making six figures as an engineer working for some large company" – she chose to pursue her passion project "on this mission to reinvent healthcare."

Her story offers a powerful lesson for aspiring innovators: sometimes the most meaningful solutions come from deeply personal experiences. As Phillips puts it, "I don't want to just share the highlights. I want to be real. I want people to know what it takes to do what I'm doing." It's this combination of personal motivation, technical expertise, and genuine desire to help others that can turn an observation about a grandmother's struggles into a medical innovation helping thousands of people maintain their quality of life and independence.

Ready to learn more about the Metaflex glove? Discover how this innovative solution might help you or someone you love.

Your Hands Deserve the Best Care 🖐️

Our hands are essential for daily life, yet conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome can make even simple tasks challenging. By understanding your hand’s anatomy, incorporating targeted stretches, and using tools like therapy gloves, you can protect your hand health and improve functionality.