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Information for Healthcare Professionals

 

Who are candidates for a Dynasplint® System?
 Appropriate candidates include patients with connective tissue (e.g., tendons, ligaments, etc.) changes which have occurred as a result of traumatic and non-traumatic conditions or immobilization, causing limited joint range of motion.

These changes are more susceptible to the benefits of low-load, prolonged-duration stretch in addition to short-lived techniques (including thermal agents, joint mobilization, manual therapy techniques, TENS and NMES).

All causes of limited range of motion favorably respond to stress or low doses of tension.

What diagnoses are common?
 1. S/P Total Knee Replacement
2. A.C.L. Reconstruction
3. Fractures
a. Distal Radius/Ulna
b. Radial Head
c. Malleolar, Pylon
d. Tibial Plateau
4. Adhesive Capsultis
5. S/P Bunionectomy, Chronic Plantar Fasciitis
6. Extensor Tendon Repairs
7. Limb Lengthening

Where is it applied?
 1. Healthcare Professionals Office
2. Therapy Clinic

When should a Dynasplint® System be prescribed?
 Optimal recovery occurs from the earliest possible application, ideally during the adaptive phase of wound healing or within 100 days from the date of injury or trauma.

The patient is at the ideal stage to apply a Dynasplint® System:
 1. Once passive range of motion is prescribed
2. Has predisposition in joint to limit ROM recovery; arthritis, articular fracture
3. 2-4 weeks S/P cast/fixator removal
4. No contraindications

Clinical studies document that routine use of a Dynasplint® System will reduce cost and rehabilitation time by as much as 53 percent, while significantly improving patient outcome and functional use.

Why are patients with limited range of motion candidates for low-load, prolonged-duration stretch?
 Despite the cause of a patient's limitation of motion, the work of Kottke has proven that these changes can be reversed by providing eight or more continuous hours of controlled dynamic tension on the connective tissue, creating a biomechanical creep or physiological remodeling of the tissue. Gradual opening of the tissue in this manner virtually eliminates the risk of fiber tearing and tissue weakening; the tissue is thus restored to its permanent normal elongated length.

Permanent length increases in restricted structure also have been demonstrated by the work of Arem and Madden, who have proven the positive effects of prolonged gentle stretch on developing scar tissue. Light, et al, further demonstrated the effectiveness of low-load, prolonged stress over high-load brief stress in a clinical study of human knee flexion contractures.

Low-load, prolonged-duration stretch is the only method that works within the physiological limits of dense connective tissue to synthesize new tissue to its permanent elongated state by remodeling and reorienting the collagen in dense connective tissue and causing the adaptive lengthening of muscle.

Dynasplint® Systems provide the most biomechanically correct method to provide this type of stimulus.

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DYNAMIC SPLINTING VS. SERIAL CASTING:
DYNAMIC SPLINTING SERIAL CASTING
Dynasplint® System’s LLPS technology promotes permanent soft tissue range of motion gains, functional improvement and tone management with regular use.2 Increased tone and spasticity, or contracture can return when casting procedure has ended. Possible loss of functional gain.
Very few contraindications—safe and appropriate for most neurological diagnoses, as well as burns, hemophilia and diabetes (not appropriate for DVT or unstable fractures). Many contraindications and inappropriate for many people—diabetics, broken or healing skin, hot and swollen joints, vascular disease, sensory loss and excessive sweating.3,4
Individualized wearing schedules based upon patient needs and tolerance. Worn up to a maximum of 6-8 continuous hours per day or night. Usually worn 24 hours per day until casting procedure ends.
All Dynasplint® Systems are easily removable—lined with lambs wool and foam to protect skin integrity, and to prevent skin breakdown or nerve impingement. Complications can include nerve impingement and skin breakdown—possibly leading to hospitalization, wound care, skin grafts and/or amputation.4
Easy application. Practical and cost effective. One fitting by a Dynasplint® Systems sales consultant with occasional follow-up visits for minor adjustments when necessary. Can be labor intensive and time consuming.4 Requires high degree of skill with material readily available. Can be expensive due to repetitive efforts over many years.

To review your Patient Rights, click on the following link: Patient Rights (PDF)

1. Hepburn GR, et al: Multi-Center Clinical Investigation on the Effect of Incorporating Dynasplint® Treatment into Standard Physical Therapy Practice for Restoring Range of Motion of Elbows and Knees, presented at the New York APTA State Chapter Meeting, New York, NY, April 26, 1985.

2. MacKay-Lyons M: Low-Load, prolonged-duration stretch in Treatment of Elbow Flexion Contractures Secondary to Head Trauma: A Case Report. Physical Therapy, Vol 69, No 4: 292-296, April 1989.

3. Botte MJ, et al: Spasticity and Contracture, Physiologic Aspects of Formation. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, No. 233: 7-18, August 1988.

4. Lebmkubl LD, et al: Multimodality Treatment of Joint Contractures in Patients with Severe Brain Injury: Cost, Effectiveness, and Integration of Therapies in the Application of Serial/Inhibitive Casts. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilita- tion, pp 23-42, December 1990.

5. Hepburn GR: Case Studies: Contracture and Stiff Joint Management with Dynasplint®. The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Vol 8, No 10: 498-504, April 1987.

Gracies JM: Pathophysiology of Impairment in Patients with Spasticity and Use of Stretch as a Treatment of Spastic Hypertonia. Physical Medicine and Rehabili- tation Clinics of North America, Vol 12, No 4: 747-768, November 2001.

McPherson JJ, Becker AH: Dynamic Splint to Reduce the Passive Component of Hypertonicity. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol 66: 249- 252, April 1985.

 

 



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