• Aurore Thibaut, Thierry Deltombe, Sarah Wannez, Olivia Gosseries, Erik Ziegler, Cyril Dieni, Maxime Deroy, and Steven Laureys.
• Coma Science Group, Cyclotron Research Centre and Neurology Department, University and University Hospital of Liège , Liège , Belgium .
• Brain Inj. 2015 Jan 1; 29 (7-8): 830-6.

ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness of soft splints on spasticity and hand opening in chronic patients with upper limb spasticity and disorders of consciousness (vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome-VS/UWS and minimally conscious state-MCS).MethodsIn this prospective single-blind controlled trial, a blind evaluator assessed spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale and Modified Tardieu Scale), range of motion (ROM) at the metacarpophalangeal, wrist and elbow joints and the patients' hand opening before and after soft splinting, manual stretching and a control condition (i.e. no treatment), as well as 60 minutes later.SubjectsSeventeen patients with chronic (>3 months) disorders of consciousness were included (five VS/UWS; seven women; mean age = 42 ± 12 years; time since insult = 35 ± 31 months). Patients received either passive splinting, manual stretching treatment or no treatment.ResultsThirty minutes of soft splinting or 30 minutes of manual stretching both improved spasticity of the finger flexors. An increase of hand opening ability was observed after 30 minutes of soft splinting.ConclusionThirty minutes of soft splint application reduces spasticity and improves hand opening of patients with chronic disorders of consciousness. Soft splinting is well tolerated and does not require supervision.

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