| dc.description.abstract | This thesis is the outcome of a functional design project for a Functional Design course. The search for a more comfortable and effective functional hand and /or wrist splint resulted in the development of a prototype functional splint. A few studies have investigated the perceived comfort and effectiveness of functional hand and /or wrist splints. This work was an attempt to determine the perceptions of comfort and effectiveness of a prototype splint. Chapter I is a review of problems and medical conditions that require the use of a functional splint, different kinds of splints, and purpose, objectives, hypotheses, and limitations of the study. Chapter II investigates the causes of hand and/or wrist orthopedic dysfunction, available treatments, clothing comfort, grip strength, pinch strength, and previous studies. Chapter III includes process, testing procedures and outcomes that resulted in the development of the prototype functional hand and/or wrist splint, testing and evaluation of the prototype splint, the experimental protocol for the evaluation of the prototype splint, and the statistical analyses. Chapter IV is the manuscript that is being prepared for submission to "Arthritis Care and Research" and Chapter V encompasses summary conclusions, and recommendations. Findings of this study indicate that the prototype splint was a comfortable and highly effective. The results presented here emphasis the fact that use of functional splint is very task specific. | |
