EFFECTIVENESS OF DYNAMIC WRIST SPLINT ON DELTOID MUSCLE ACTIVITY USING FUNCTIONAL TASK PRACTICE IN POST STROKE PATIENTS

Background:The study is to analyze the effectiveness of dynamic wrist splint on deltoid muscle activity usingfunctional task practice along with strengthening exercises in post stroke patients.Materials and Methods:Experimental study with sampling size 30 patients Group A: 15 patients. Group B: 15 patients. Sampling methodis convenient random sampling. Intervention period: 4 weeks. Settings: Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital, Vasanthnagar, Bangalore.The patient will be received; history will be taken; explained about the treatment session andinformed written consent will be taken. Patient will be made to sit comfortably. Check for safety i.e.; with armrest, back rest if necessary provide cushion. Dynamic wrist splint of appropriate size will be taken; checked forfitting of the splint for any compression and avoid other complications The initial muscle activityprior to treat-ment will be measured using EMG for deltoid. Group A: The patient will be asked to perform a given set ofactivities or tasks with splint. Group B: The patient will be asked to perform a given set of activities or taskswithout splint Each session would last for 30 minutes and frequency of 3-4 times per week. At the end oftreatment, surface EMG for deltoid is taken to check for the effectiveness of use of splint with work task duringthe rehabilitation program.Results:After 4weeks treatment period, the subjects in the group A were com-pared with the subjects in the group B. Group B had shown a significant difference with outcome measureswhen compared to group AConclusion:It is evident from the results that the subjects who used the thumbabduction supinator splint showed significant level of improvement in function and increase in deltoid muscleactivity when compared with subjects who did not use the splint as quantified using Fugl Meyer Scalefor UpperExtremity and Surface EMG.