Dynasplint Systems

In most orthopaedic cases, a trauma, surgery or condition paired with immobilization that has resulted in a loss of range of motion and joint stiffness. Common orthopaedic diagnoses are:

• Frozen shoulder
• Distal radius fracture such as Colles fracture, Hallux rigidus or limitus[6]
• ACL reconstruction
• Plantar fasciitis[7]
• Total Knee Replacement[8]
• Open reduction internal fixation
• External fixation
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Dupuytren's contracture
• Fracture
• Burn
• Rotator cuff tear
• Achilles tendon rupture
• Bunion surgery recovery
• Carpal Tunnel syndrome
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ disorder) or trismus, which is an involuntary contraction of the jaw muscle causing a restriction of the mouth opening, often seen in head and neck cancers.[9]

Neurological disorder patients may have sustained trauma to the brain or a disease such as Multiple sclerosis, Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or Stroke, Traumatic brain injury (TBI), and cerebral palsy and resultant Toe walking. The spring-loaded tension system safely accommodates a patient's tone and Spasticity by moving with the patient during episodes of resistance or spasms. When tone is challenged with a consistent, even force that fatigues the muscle and mentally relaxes the patient, the spring tension systems then bring the patient back to their end-range to continue a low-load, prolonged-duration stretch (LLPS).[10]

Additional neurological diagnoses include:

• Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
• Arthrogryposis
• Muscular dystrophy (MD)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Hypertonic muscle spasm
• Pierre Robin malformation

There are more than eighty Dynasplint Systems that stretch in extension and flexion of the elbow, wrist, hand, finger, knee, and toes, as well as dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the foot and ankle, supination and pronation of the forearm, internal rotation and external rotation of the shoulder, as well as abduction and adduction of the fingers and toes.

While each patient is different, the average course of treatment is 3 to 4 months for an orthopedic case, and 8 months to a lifetime for a neurological patient. A physician orders a Dynasplint, and the patient is individually fit at either the doctor’s office, physical therapy appointment or in the residential facility. The splint is used at rest, or overnight. The biomechanically correct tensioning is adjusted on both sides as range of motion gains occur. Time spent at end range vs. rapid increase in tension (force) allows for permanent length change.[8]

The George R. Hepburn Dynasplint Endowed Professorship in Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science was established on September 22, 2004 and is the first endowed professorship for physical therapy within the University of Maryland School of Medicine. The funds associated with the professorship serve to guarantee the ongoing operation of the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences by providing a permanent resource that is dedicated to this program.

Dynasplint Cares is the community outreach effort of Dynasplint Systems whose purpose statement is “to help restore people, business and life the way it ought to be.” Activities are chronicled on Dynasplint.org and benefit environmental projects, military, medical research, and community needs.