title: Hand splinting for poststroke spasticity: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of volar and dorsal splinting on the spasticity of the wrist flexor muscles in patients who had stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine subjects were prospectively randomized to use a dorsal or volar splint or no splint (control group). All the patients underwent home-based exercise program, and the experimental groups used either dorsal or volar hand splints according to their distribution. The primary outcome measure was spasticity assessed clinically by the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and electrophysiologically by H latency and Hmax:Mmax ratio of flexor carpi radialis. Secondary outcome measure was passive range of motion (PROM) of wrist extension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spasticity parameters (MAS, H latency, Hmax:Mmax ratio) and wrist PROM were not significantly different among the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study failed to demonstrate any statistically significant difference in spasticity or in wrist PROM of both the volar and dorsal splint groups. These splints could be recommended as part of an integrative approach without expecting a major clinical effect rather than as an alternative to other treatment.
authors: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Konya Beyhekim State Hospital, Konya, Turkey.
authors: Aynur
authors: A
authors: Basaran
authors: Ufuk
authors: U
authors: Emre
authors: Kiymet Ikbal
authors: KI
authors: Karadavut
authors: Ozlem
authors: O
authors: Balbaloglu
authors: Nercivan
authors: N
authors: Bulmus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D006225:Hand / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013165:Splints; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014953:Wrist / Q000294:innervation