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 splinting for the stiff hand after trauma: predictors of contracture resolution.
STUDY DESIGN Prospect i ve cohort . INTRODUCTION Many variables are believed to influence the success of dynamic splinting , yet their relationship with contracture resolution is unclear . PURPOSE OF THE STUDY To identify the predictors of outcome with dynamic splinting of the stiff h and after trauma . METHODS Forty-six participants ( 56 joints ) completed eight weeks of dynamic splinting  , and the relationship between 13 clinical variables and outcome was explored . RESULTS Improvement in passive range of motion , active range of motion ( AROM ) , and torque range of motion averaged 21.8 ° , 20.0 ° , and 13.0 ° , respectively ( average daily total end range time , 7.96 hours ) . Significant predictors included joint stiffness ( modified Weeks Test ) , time since injury , diagnosis , and deficit ( flexion/extension ) . For every degree change in ROM on the modified Weeks Test , AROM improved 1.09 ° ( st and ard error , 0.2 ) . Test-retest reliability of the modified Weeks Test was high ( intraclass correlation coefficient [ 2 , 1]=0.78 ) . CONCLUSIONS Better progress with dynamic splinting may be expected in joints with less pretreatment stiffness , shorter time since injury ( < 12 weeks ) , and in flexion rather than extension deficits . Further research is needed to determine the accuracy with which the modified Weeks Test may predict contracture resolution . LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2b
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 ?