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Proposal for splinting the adult hemiplegic hand to promote function
1Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77550.
Occupational Therapy in Health Care
|August 13, 2013
Summary
This study explores a dorsal splint for hemiplegic hand use. Consistent splinting in young patients led to increased spontaneous use of the affected hand.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Occupational Therapy
Background:
- Limited consensus exists on splinting for hemiplegic hand functional use.
- Therapists actively seek innovative strategies to improve hand function in hemiplegia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a novel dorsal splint adaptation for the hemiplegic hand.
- To evaluate the efficacy of this splint in enhancing functional hand use.
Main Methods:
- A dorsal splint adaptation based on neurophysiological principles was designed.
- The splint was applied to two young patients with hemiplegia, 10-11 months post-onset.
- Consistent splint use was monitored.
Main Results:
- Both patients demonstrated increased spontaneous use of their hemiplegic hand after consistent splint application.
- The proposed splint adaptation showed positive preliminary results in improving hand engagement.
Conclusions:
- The dorsal splint adaptation shows promise as an intervention to increase spontaneous hemiplegic hand use.
- Further research is warranted to validate these findings in a larger hemiplegic population.
