Dynamic splint to reduce the passive component of hypertonicity.

A study was conducted to test the effectiveness of a newly designed dynamic splint in reducing the passive component of hypertonus. Splinting and P-ROM exercise were compared among eight elderly subjects matched by age and sex with hemiparesis, one year after cerebrovascular accident. Spring-weighted scale measurements of the passive force of the wrist from 0 degrees flexion/extension towards flexion were used as dependent measures. Measurements were taken three days per week for six weeks. Data demonstrated that a significant reduction of hypertonus occurred among the splinted group but not the P-ROM group. A further comparison with previously published data on the effects of static splinting demonstrated that dynamic splinting led to a greater reduction of hypertonus than static splinting and P-ROM exercises.