Objective evaluation of a splint designed to reduce hypertonicity.

Snook's spasticity reduction splint was evaluated objectively with five severely and profoundly handicapped subjects. The force of spastic wrist flexors in pounds of pull was measured on a spring-weighted scale. Findings demonstrated that the device designed for this study was useful in measuring hypertonus; splint wearing resulted in a reduction of the passive component of muscle tone and that this reduction was related to the length of time the subjects wore splints; the effects of splint wearing were not necessarily permanent. Components that contribute to the condition of hypertonicity are discussed, as well as the implications of the study findings for occupational therapists.