SOFT VERSUS HARD RESTING HAND SPLINTS IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - PAIN RELIEF, PREFERENCE, AND COMPLIANCE

Objectives. This study compared soft versus hard resting hand splints on pain and hand function in 39 persons with rheumatoid arthritis. Spl int preference was also evaluated to determine its effects on splint w ear compliance. Method. A repeated measures research design was used t o compare the two experimental conditions, wearing a soft splint versu s a hard splint on the dominant hand for 28 days at night only, and an unsplinted control period of 28 days. Results. Arthritis pain was con siderably less during both splinted periods when compared with the pre test. Subjects identified fewer joints as being painful during the sof i splint condition than during the unsplinted condition. There were no significant differences among conditions on hand function measures. S plint preference was 57% for the soft splint, 33% for the hard splint, and 10% for no splint. Splint wear compliance was significantly bette r with the soft splint (82%) than with the hard splint (67%). Conclusi on. The findings indicate that resting hand splints are effective for pain relief and that persons with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to prefer and comply with soft splint use for this purpose. Individua lized splint prescription that focuses on client comfort and preferenc e may enhance splint wear compliance.