Overnight splinting of the wrist in a neutral or extended position did not prevent contracture after stroke
Q Does overnight splinting of the wrist prevent contracture after stroke? Is splinting in an extended position more effective than splinting in a neutral position?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded (outcome assessor).
Follow up period:
6 weeks.
Setting:
9 inpatient rehabilitation and stroke units in Sydney, Australia.
Patients:
63 patients ⩾18 years of age (mean age 71 y, 52% women) who had had a stroke in the previous 8 weeks (mean 4 wks), no active wrist extension, and sufficient cognitive and hearing function to participate in the trial.
Intervention:
neutral splint (0–10° extension) (n = 21), extension splint (comfortable end of range position [>45°] with the metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints extended) (n = 21), or no splint (n = 21). Patients in the 2 splint groups wore the custom …
