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Ten adults with hypertonic wrist flexors volunteered as subjects in an experiment comparing the effectiveness of dorsal and volar resting hand splints in the reduction of abnormal muscle tone. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups of five each. Individuals in one group were fitted with dorsal splints, and individuals in a second group with volar splints. Measurements by spring-weighted scales were taken to assess the efficiency of each splint design in the reduction of hypertonus. Results demonstrated no significant differences between the volar and dorsal splints in reducing hypertonus. However, the age of the subjects was found to be an intervening variable: The older subjects of both groups demonstrated a gradual but not significant decline in hypertonus, whereas the younger adults demonstrated a significant decline in hypertonus over a 6-week period.

Snook's spasticity reduction splint was evaluated objectively with five severely and profoundly handicapped subjects. The force of spastic wrist flexors in pounds of pull was measured on a spring-weighted scale. Findings demonstrated that the device designed for this study was useful in measuring hypertonus; splint wearing resulted in a reduction of the passive component of muscle tone and that this reduction was related to the length of time the subjects wore splints; the effects of splint wearing were not necessarily permanent. Components that contribute to the condition of hypertonicity are discussed, as well as the implications of the study findings for occupational therapists.

The purposes of this study were to compare the arm movements of persons with and without cerebral palsy and to determine if the alteration of the seat angle of a chair affected the quality of those movements. Twelve subjects--3 men and 3 women with spastic cerebral palsy and 3 men and 3 women without any known anomalies that could affect arm movements--were studied. The number of movement elements constituting a reach was used to measure the quality of movements. The findings demonstrated significant differences in the number of movement elements used by the subjects with and without cerebral palsy regardless of position. No significant differences could be attributed to the seating positions. Implications are discussed in relation to the method used in the analysis of movements and the effect of the findings for research and treatment.