A Wrist Extension Operated Lateral Key Grip Orthosis for People With Tetraplegia
By King, Marcus J.; Verkaaik, Julian K.; Nicholls, Angela; Collins, Fiona; Technology and Disability, Vo. 21, No. 1-2, pp. 19-23Publication Date: 2009
Paper describes the development of a tenodesis orthosis (hand splint) for assisting people who have a cervical spinal injury resulting in reduced grasp function. The orthosis, which can be donned and doffed independently by the wearer, utilizes wrist extension to produce a lateral key grip between the thumb and proximal or middle phalanx of the index finger. Functionality of the orthosis was assessed with 7 male participants with C5 to C7 level cervical injury, who performed 13 activities of daily living (ADL) such as picking up food with a fork, using a card in an automatic teller machine, opening and closing zippers, and using a remote control button. Participants wore the orthosis during ADL for at least half an hour daily during a 6-week period. At the end of each week, lateral key grip force was measured using a Preston pinch meter, and functional ability, both with and without the orthosis, was assessed using a specially designed ADL assessment tool. Use of the orthosis was found to increase lateral key grip on average by 3 times, and the number of tasks achieved increased from 6 to 11 of the 13 measured. The learning effect from the training protocol was significant, and use of the orthosis reinforced the movement patterns required to achieve a standard tenodesis grasp.
Published by: IOS Press (Website:http://www.iospress.nl)
Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) (Web Site: http://www.aaate.net )
Link to text: http://iospress.metapress.com/content/g6q626830373852v/
