The Effect of Prefabricated Neoprene Hand Splint on Grip Strength and Hand Dexterity in Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Cerebral palsy is a disorder of movement and posture that is caused by a non-progressive and permanent damage to the immature brain. Splints are often using to prevent deformity, supporting affected limbs, positioning, decreasing spasticity, immobilization, and to help hand functions such as grip, pinch-and release objects.
Material and methods: Six children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (4 boys, 2 girls) aged 8 to 13 years old were included in this study. Grip strength and hand dexterity were determined using Digital hand Dynamometer and 8th subtest of Bruininks-oserestsky test of Motor Proficiency Measure (BOTM) in respect, with and without prefabricated hand neoprene splint on a session.
Results: No significant difference was observed in grip strength between the ones without splint (4.83 ± 3.92) and with splint (5.4 ± 6.18), (p=0.345). A manual activities without splint (4.83 ± 3.92) did not significantly differ from the splint- worn (5.83 ± 3.6) one (p=0.343), as well as bimanual activities did not statistically significant difference without splint (2.16 ± 1.6) and with splint (2 ± 1.26) (p=0.1.705). The comparison of the mean total score in the 8th subtest of Bruininks-Oseretsky, demonstrated no statistically significant difference (p=0.458).
Conclusion: This study is pilot study and this sample size cannot show effect of prefabricated splint on grip strength and dexterity, so this pilot study showed defect of study that it should be considered in large sample size and obtain more exact conclusion.

Author(s): Mirbagheri SS, Gharebaghi S

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