title: The effects of splinting on shoulder function in adult burns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exercises are commonly prescribed to improve shoulder range following axillary burns, but the effect of additional splinting is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare splinting and exercise to exercise alone in adults with axillary burns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomised study allocating participants to a splinting (n=27) or no splinting group (n=25). Outcomes measured at six and twelve weeks were shoulder abduction and flexion range, quality of life using the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B) questionnaire and upper limb function using the Upper Extremity Functional Index (UEFI) and the Grocery Shelving Task (GST).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At week twelve, there was no difference between groups for shoulder abduction (mean difference 0°, 95% CI -22 to 22°), flexion (mean difference 2°, 95% CI -18 to 23°), BSHS-B (mean difference -2 points, 95% CI -23 to 18 points), UEFI (mean difference -3 points, 95% CI -19 to 14 points) and GST (mean difference -9s, 95% CI -20 to 3s). Adherence to splinting decreased from 77% of participants at week one to 16% at week twelve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Shoulder splints did not improve clinical outcomes in this study population and low adherence rates suggest splinting may be unacceptable to patients and makes drawing firm conclusions difficult.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, The Alfred, Prahran, Victoria 3181, Australia. A.Kolmus@alfred.org.au
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kolmus
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: Heather J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cleland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002056:Burns / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012785:Shoulder Joint; D013165:Splints; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult