The strongest evidence supports postsurgical early active motion protocol s and splinting for various conditions .
Very few studies have examined occupation-based interventions .
Occupational therapy practitioners are key health care providers for people with musculoskeletal disorders of the distal upper extremity .
It is imperative that practitioners underst and the most effective and efficient means for remediating impairments and supporting clients in progressing to independence in purpose ful occupations .
This systematic review provides an up date to a previous review by summarizing articles published between 2006 and July 2014 related to the focused question , What is the evidence for the effect of occupational therapy interventions on functional outcomes for adults with musculoskeletal disorders of the forearm , wrist , and h and ?
Dynamic splints do not reduce contracture following distal radial fracture: a randomised controlled trial.
QUESTION Do dynamic splints reduce contracture following distal radial fracture ? DESIGN Assessor-blinded , r and omised controlled trial . PARTICIPANTS Forty out patients with contracture following distal radial fracture . INTERVENTION The control group received routine care consisting of exercises and advice for 8 weeks . In addition to routine care , during the day the experimental group received a dynamic splint , which stretched the wrist into extension but allowed intermittent movement . OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcomes were passive wrist extension and the Patient Rated H and Wrist Evaluation ( PRHWE ) . The secondary outcomes were active wrist extension , flexion , radial deviation , and ulnar deviation , and the performance and satisfaction items of the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure ( COPM ) . All outcomes were measured at commencement , at the end of 8 weeks of treatment , and at 12 weeks ( ie , 1 month follow-up ) . RESULTS The mean between-group difference for passive wrist extension and PRHWE at 8 weeks were 4 deg ( 95 % CI -4 to 12 ) and -2 points ( 95 % CI -8 to 4 ) , respectively . The corresponding values at 12 week follow-up were 6 deg ( 95 % CI 1 to 12 ) and 2 points ( 95 % CI -5 to 9 ) . There were no sufficiently important between-group differences for any of the secondary outcome measures at 8 or 12 weeks . CONCLUSION It is unclear whether dynamic splints following distal radial fracture have therapeutic effects on passive wrist extension or PRHWE , but they clearly do not have any therapeutic effects on active wrist extension , flexion , radial or ulnar deviation , or on the performance or satisfaction items of the COPM . The ongoing use of dynamic splints following distal radial fracture is difficult to justify . TRIAL REGISTRATION ACTRN12608000309381
The strongest evidence supports postsurgical early active motion protocol s and splinting for various conditions .
Very few studies have examined occupation-based interventions .
Occupational therapy practitioners are key health care providers for people with musculoskeletal disorders of the distal upper extremity .
It is imperative that practitioners underst and the most effective and efficient means for remediating impairments and supporting clients in progressing to independence in purpose ful occupations .
This systematic review provides an up date to a previous review by summarizing articles published between 2006 and July 2014 related to the focused question , What is the evidence for the effect of occupational therapy interventions on functional outcomes for adults with musculoskeletal disorders of the forearm , wrist , and h and ?