Related Experiment Videos
Improvement in grasp skill in children with hemiplegia with the MacKinnon splint
1University of Nebraska Medical Center, Meyer Children's Rehabilitation Institute, Omaha.
Insights
The MacKinnon splint improved grasp skills in young children with spastic hemiplegia. Daily use of the splint led to better object manipulation for all participants in the study.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Neuroscience
- Occupational Therapy
Background:
- Spastic hemiplegia affects motor control, particularly grasp, in children.
- Effective interventions are crucial for improving functional outcomes in pediatric cerebral palsy.
- The MacKinnon splint is a potential assistive device for enhancing hand function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of the MacKinnon splint in improving grasp skills.
- To assess the impact of daily splint wear on object manipulation in children with spastic hemiplegia.
Main Methods:
- A multiple baseline design across three subjects was employed.
- Participants included children aged 2.5 to 7.5 years with spastic hemiplegia.
- Grasp skills were assessed using eight different, randomly presented objects.
Main Results:
- All three children demonstrated improved grasp skills after the introduction of the MacKinnon splint.
- Consistent daily wear of the splint correlated with enhanced object manipulation.
- Objective improvements were noted in the ability to grasp various items.
Conclusions:
- The MacKinnon splint is an effective intervention for improving grasp abilities in children with spastic hemiplegia.
- Daily use of the MacKinnon splint can lead to significant functional gains.
- Further research is warranted to explore long-term effects and broader applications.
Abstract:
This study evaluated the use of the MacKinnon splint upon grasp skills in three children, ages 2 1/2 to 7 1/2, with spastic hemiplegia. The MacKinnon splint was sequentially introduced in a multiple baseline design across subjects. The results indicated improvement in each child's grasp of eight different, randomly presented objects, after a MacKinnon splint was provided for daily wear.