Night splinting does not increase ankle range of motion in people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: a randomised, cross-over trial.
OBJECTIVE
What is the effect of wearing splints at night to stretch the plantarflexors on dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM) in people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease?


METHODS
Randomised, assessor-blinded, cross-over trial.


METHODS
14 people (1 dropout) aged 7 to 30 years with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Type 1A and with < or = 15 degrees dorsiflexion range of motion (ROM).


METHODS
A splint holding the ankle in maximum dorsiflexion was worn nightly on one leg for 6 weeks followed by the opposite leg for the subsequent 6 weeks.


METHODS
The primary outcome was dorsiflexion ROM; secondary outcomes were eversion ROM, and dorsiflexion, eversion, and inversion strength, measured before and after splinting, and three months later.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the experimental and the control intervention in terms of ROM or strength. Wearing the splint at night increased dorsiflexion ROM by 1 degree (95% CI -3 to 4; p = 0.72) and eversion ROM by 1 degree (95% CI -1 to 3; p = 0.28) compared to not wearing the splint. Wearing the splint increased dorsiflexion strength by 41 N (95% CI -53 to 135; p = 0.38), reduced eversion strength by 6 N (95% CI -112 to 101; p = 0.92) and reduced inversion strength by 8 N (95% CI -110 to 95; p = 0.88) compared to not wearing the splint.


CONCLUSIONS
Wearing night splints does not increase ankle ROM or strength in people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Type 1A.
Refshauge
Kathryn M
KM
School of Physiotherapy, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW, Australia. k.refshauge@fhs.usyd.edu.au
Raymond
Jacqueline
J
Nicholson
Garth
G
van den Dolder
Paul A
PA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002607:Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013165:Splints; D016896:Treatment Outcome