Effects of Neoprene Wrist/Hand Splints on Handwriting for Students with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome: A Single System Design Study

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Pain associated with hypermobility of wrist and hand joints can contribute to decreased handwriting output. This study examined the effectiveness of a neoprene wrist/hand splint in reducing pain and increasing handwriting speed and endurance for students with joint hypermobility syndrome. Methods: Multiple baseline, single system design (SSD) methodology was used. Four ninth grade students with handwriting difficulties because of joint hypermobility syndrome participated in this study. Results: Visual and statistical (two standard deviation band method) analyses indicated a significant decrease in handwriting speed when using the splint for three out of four participants. No significant change in pain or endurance was noted during intervention. There was a significant decrease in pain following withdrawal of the splint for three participants. Conclusion: Evidence from this study does not support use of this particular splint for decreasing pain and increasing handwriting speed and endurance for ninth grade students with joint hypermobility syndrome.

KEYWORDS. :

• Joint hypermobility syndrome
• hand
• handwriting
• occupational therapy
• pain
• splint

Notes

¹In the NSW population, students in Year 9 are in their 10th year of formal school education and are generally aged 13–15 years of age, and consequently are approximately equivalent to Grade 9 in North America.