The effect of wearing a wrist splint on shoulder kinematics during object manipulation.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypotheses that (1) wearing a flexible wrist splint while taking an object from a box increases known postural risk factors for shoulder disorders and (2) that the height of the front of the box modulates the effect on shoulder kinematics of wearing a wrist splint.


METHODS
A controlled laboratory experiment with 2 factors (splint wearing, box height).


METHODS
Human performance laboratory.


METHODS
Ten consecutive healthy volunteers (5 men, 5 women; age range, 19-32 y).


METHODS
Experimental manipulation of wrist immobilization and box height.


METHODS
Humeral plane of elevation, humeral elevation, and humeral axial rotation.


RESULTS
Wearing a wrist splint increased the maximum humeral elevation angle (P<.001), and the height of the barrier also increased the maximum humeral elevation angle (P<.001). The average difference in maximum humeral elevation between the splint and the no splint conditions was 6.8 degrees .


CONCLUSIONS
Wearing a wrist splint while performing a job that requires removing objects from a box can increase risk factors for shoulder disorders. Workplace analysis should be performed to avoid secondary injuries before a patient wearing a wrist splint returns to work.
Mell
Amy G
AG
Orthopaedic Research Laboratories, MedSport, and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0391, USA.
Childress
Brian L
BL
Hughes
Richard E
RE
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012090:Cumulative Trauma Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D013165:Splints; D014953:Wrist / Q000502:physiology*