INTERPRETATION In children with CP , h and splints may have a small benefit for upper limb skills .
However , results are diminished after splint wearing stops .
AIM The aim of this review was to determine the effectiveness of h and splinting for improving h and function in children with cerebral palsy ( CP ) and brain injury .
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and dynamic bracing for the management of upper-extremity spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.
A prospect i ve study was design ed to determine whether the combined use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation ( NMES ) and dynamic bracing was more effective than use of either alone in reducing upper-extremity spasticity in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy . Twenty-four patients ( 12 males , 12 females ; mean age 8y 7mo [ SD 4y 2mo ] ; age range 3 - 18y ) diagnosed with spastic hemiplegic CP were r and omly allocated to three groups : group 1 had two 30-minute sessions of NMES a day applied on the antagonist extensors without bracing ; group 2 had two 30-minute sessions of dynamic bracing per day ; and group 3 had two 30-minute sessions of NMES and dynamic bracing every day . Treatment was continued for 6 months in all groups and applied only to the affected extremity . Patients were evaluated before therapy , at monthly intervals during the therapy , and 3 months after completion of the therapy . Three measures of outcome were taken : the Melbourne Assessment , grip strength , and posture evaluation with Zancolli 's classification . The therapist performing the outcome assessment s was blinded as to groups . Statistically significant differences were found in all three measures for only those treated with combined NMES and dynamic bracing . However , this significant effect lasted for only 2 months after discontinuation of the treatment . We conclude that the combined use of NMES and bracing is more effective than either alone but requires continuous application
INTERPRETATION In children with CP , h and splints may have a small benefit for upper limb skills .
However , results are diminished after splint wearing stops .
AIM The aim of this review was to determine the effectiveness of h and splinting for improving h and function in children with cerebral palsy ( CP ) and brain injury .