Effects of Air Splints on Sensorimotor Disturbances of the Affected Upper Extremity and Trunk Control in Adult Post-Stroke Patients

Abstract

Background: The present study aimed to determine whether the protocolized use of pneumatic splints within neurodevelopmental therapeutic approaches produces a positive effect on sensorimotor impairments of the hemiplegic upper extremity in patients. Methods: A randomized clinical single-blind trial was conducted. Stroke patients were recruited and randomized into an experimental group, which completed a treatment protocol of splinting plus physiotherapy for 45 min per session, two sessions per week for four weeks; or a control group, which received the same type of conventional physiotherapy treatment for the same period of time. The patients were evaluated by Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) and the Trunk Control Scale. Secondary variables were Mini-BEStest, the modified Ashworth scale for ankle flexors, and computerized measurements of upper limb functional parameters performed by Armeo Spring® robotic systems and Amadeo®. All variables were measured pre- and post-treatment. Results: Twenty stroke patients with subacute and chronic stroke completed the protocol. Mann¿Whitney U tests showed statistically significant differences between groups for the FM sensation variable (Z = ¿2.19; p = 0.03). The rest of the variables studied in the comparison between the two study groups did not present statistically significant differences (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The use of air splints in combination with physiotherapy treatment produced improvements in exteroceptive and proprioceptive sensitivity in post-stroke adult patients in the subacute and chronic phases. Keywords: air splints; physical therapy; rehabilitation; sensorimotor impairments; stroke; upper limbs