Dynasplint Systems
Encyclopedia
Dynasplint Systems, Incorporated (DSI) is a company that designs, manufactures and sells dynamic splints that are used for range of motion
rehabilitation. The corporate headquarters are located in Severna Park, Maryland
and is consider a major employer in Anne Arundel County. Products are Made in the USA in Stevensville, Maryland
.There is a national sales force throughout the US as well as a presence in Canada and Europe.
(ROM) gains made in therapy and to make further gains to resolve joint stiffness. In 1981, the Dynasplint was conceived to continue the work of the physical therapist at home.
This spring-loaded dynamic splint is worn at rest for six to eight hours at a time, and employs adjustable low load prolonged duration stretch technology (LLPS) to achieve a permanent change in shortened connective tissues. Conversely, when a joint is stretched quickly by high intensity short duration (HISD) some range of motion may be gained but rebounding will occur.
(DVT) or a bone to bone end feel.
and joint stiffness. Common orthopaedic diagnoses are:
, 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).
Additional neurological diagnoses include:
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. Sizes are available from infant to extra large adult and are individually fit by consultants.
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.
and Small Animal Dynasplint Systems aids in treating congenital
and acquired
angular and flexural deformities. Congenital deformities are present at birth, and acquired deformities develop at some stage of the growing period. Acquired deformities manifest differently depending on the age of the horse.
The Equine Dynasplint systems are also being integrated into treatments for laxity and suspensory ligament injuries. Suspensory ligament injuries are common in athletic horses. The suspensory apparatus includes the suspensory ligament
that extends down from the back of the knee to the fetlock joint, the two sesamoid bones at the back of the fetlock joint, and the various ligaments connecting these bones to each other and to the pastern bone. These structures are crucial for supporting the horse's weight and acting as shock absorbers for the leg.
. 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.
Range of motion
Range of motion , is the distance that a movable object may normally travel while properly attached to another object. It is also called range of travel, particularly when talking about mechanical devices and in mechanical engineering fields...
rehabilitation. The corporate headquarters are located in Severna Park, Maryland
Severna Park, Maryland
Severna Park is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 28,507 at the 2000 census.-History:Robinson House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.-Geography:...
and is consider a major employer in Anne Arundel County. Products are Made in the USA in Stevensville, Maryland
Stevensville, Maryland
Stevensville is a census-designated place in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, and is the county's most populous place among both CDPs and municipalities. The Stevensville Historic District is one of only two registered historic districts in the county, the other being the Centreville Historic...
.There is a national sales force throughout the US as well as a presence in Canada and Europe.
Background
Dynasplint was founded in 1981 by physical therapist, George R. Hepburn, PT and is the pioneer and recognized market leader in dynamic splinting. The need was recognized for longer periods of stretching to keep range of motionRange of motion
Range of motion , is the distance that a movable object may normally travel while properly attached to another object. It is also called range of travel, particularly when talking about mechanical devices and in mechanical engineering fields...
(ROM) gains made in therapy and to make further gains to resolve joint stiffness. In 1981, the Dynasplint was conceived to continue the work of the physical therapist at home.
This spring-loaded dynamic splint is worn at rest for six to eight hours at a time, and employs adjustable low load prolonged duration stretch technology (LLPS) to achieve a permanent change in shortened connective tissues. Conversely, when a joint is stretched quickly by high intensity short duration (HISD) some range of motion may be gained but rebounding will occur.
Current uses
The appropriate patient for dynamic splinting has structural changes in the joint capsule such as shortened muscles, ligaments, tendons, and skin, as well as those who have adhesion formation. If passive range of motioned has been prescribed, then dynamic splinting may commence. Dynamic splinting is contraindicated If there is an unstable fracture, Deep Vein ThrombosisDeep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein. Deep vein thrombosis commonly affects the leg veins or the deep veins of the pelvis. Occasionally the veins of the arm are affected...
(DVT) or a bone to bone end feel.
Orthopaedic diagnoses
In most orthopaedic cases, a trauma, surgery or condition paired with immobilization that has resulted in a loss of range of motionRange of motion
Range of motion , is the distance that a movable object may normally travel while properly attached to another object. It is also called range of travel, particularly when talking about mechanical devices and in mechanical engineering fields...
and joint stiffness. Common orthopaedic diagnoses are:
- Frozen shoulderFrozen shoulderFrozen shoulder, medically referred to as adhesive capsulitis, is a disorder in which the shoulder capsule, the connective tissue surrounding the glenohumeral joint of the shoulder, becomes inflamed and stiff, greatly restricting motion and causing chronic pain.Adhesive capsulitis is a painful and...
- Distal radius fractureDistal radius fractureA distal radius fracture is a common bone fracture of the radius in the forearm. Because of its proximity to the wrist joint, this injury is often called a wrist fracture...
such as Colles fracture, Hallux rigidusHallux rigidusDegenerative arthritis and stiffness due to bone spurs that affects the MTP joint at the base of the hallux is called Hallux rigidus or stiff big toe.- Symptoms :...
or limitus - ACL reconstruction
- Plantar fasciitisPlantar fasciitisPlantar fasciitis is a painful inflammatory process of the plantar fascia, the connective tissue on the sole of the foot.Longstanding cases of plantar fasciitis often demonstrate more degenerative changes than inflammatory changes, in which case they are termed plantar fasciosis. The suffix...
- Total Knee Replacement
- Open reduction internal fixation
- External fixationExternal FixationExternal fixation is a surgical treatment used to set bone fractures in which a cast would not allow proper alignment of the fracture.-Method:...
- Rheumatoid arthritisRheumatoid arthritisRheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
- Dupuytren's contractureDupuytren's contractureDupuytren's contracture , is a fixed flexion contracture of the hand where the fingers bend towards the palm and cannot be fully extended...
- Fracture
- BurnBurnA burn is an injury to flesh caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation, or friction.Burn may also refer to:*Combustion*Burn , type of watercourses so named in Scotland and north-eastern England...
- Rotator cuff tearRotator cuff tearRotator cuff tears are tears of one or more of the four tendons of the rotator cuff muscles. A rotator cuff injury can include any type of irritation or damage to the rotator cuff muscles or tendons....
- Achilles tendon ruptureAchilles tendon ruptureThe Achilles tendon is the most commonly injured tendon. Rupture can occur while performing actions requiring explosive acceleration, such as pushing off or jumping...
- BunionBunionA bunion is a deformity characterized by lateral deviation of the great toe, often erroneously described as an enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the head of the big toe...
surgery recovery - Carpal Tunnel syndromeCarpal tunnel syndromeCarpal Tunnel Syndrome is an entrapment idiopathic median neuropathy, causing paresthesia, pain, and other symptoms in the distribution of the median nerve due to its compression at the wrist in the carpal tunnel. The pathophysiology is not completely understood but can be considered compression...
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ disorder) or trismusTrismus-Common causes:*Pericoronitis is the most common cause of trismus.*Inflammation of muscles of mastication. It is a frequent sequel to surgical removal of mandibular third molars . The condition is usually resolved on its own in 10–14 days, during which time eating and oral hygiene are compromised...
, which is an involuntary contraction of the jaw muscle causing a restriction of the mouth opening, often seen in head and neck cancers.
Neurological diagnoses
Neurological disorder patients may have sustained trauma to the brain or a disease such as Multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
, Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or Stroke, Traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injury , also known as intracranial injury, occurs when an external force traumatically injures the brain. TBI can be classified based on severity, mechanism , or other features...
(TBI), and Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
and resultant Toe walking
Toe walking
Toe walking refers to a condition where a person walks on his or her toes without putting much weight on the heel or any other part of the foot. Toe-walking in toddlers is common. These children usually adopt a normal walking pattern as they grow older...
. The spring-loaded tension system safely accommodates a patient's tone and Spasticity
Spasticity
Spasticity is a feature of altered skeletal muscle performance in muscle tone involving hypertonia, which is also referred to as an unusual "tightness" of muscles...
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).
Additional neurological diagnoses include:
- Spinal Muscular AtrophySpinal muscular atrophySpinal Muscular Atrophy is a neuromuscular disease characterized by degeneration of motor neurons, resulting in progressive muscular atrophy and weakness. The clinical spectrum of SMA ranges from early infant death to normal adult life with only mild weakness...
(SMA) - ArthrogryposisArthrogryposisArthrogryposis, also known as Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, is a rare congenital disorder that is characterized by multiple joint contractures and can include muscle weakness and fibrosis. It is a non-progressive disease...
- Muscular Distrophy (MD)
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Hypertonic muscle spasmSpasmIn medicine a spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle, a group of muscles, or a hollow organ, or a similarly sudden contraction of an orifice. It is sometimes accompanied by a sudden burst of pain, but is usually harmless and ceases after a few minutes...
- Pierre Robin MalformationPierre Robin syndromePierre Robin Sequence , also known as Pierre Robin Malformation, is a congenital condition of facial abnormalities in humans. PRS is a sequence: a chain of certain developmental malformations, one entailing the next...
Types of splints
There are more than eighty Dynasplint Systems that stretch in extensionExtension
Extension may refer to:* A cheerleading stunt* The building of community capacity by outsiders, for instance agricultural extension* Extension , relating to the pulling apart of the Earth's crust and lithosphere...
and flexion
Flexion
In anatomy, flexion is a position that is made possible by the joint angle decreasing. The skeletal and muscular systems work together to move the joint into a "flexed" position. For example the elbow is flexed when the hand is brought closer to the shoulder...
of the elbow, wrist, hand, finger, knee, and toes, as well as dorsiflexion
Dorsiflexion
Dorsiflexion is the movement which decreases the angle between the dorsum of the foot and the leg, so that the toes are brought closer to the shin. The movement moving in opposite directions is called plantarflexion...
and plantarflexion
Plantarflexion
Plantarflexion is the movement which increases the approximate 90 degree angle between the front part of the foot and the shin, as when depressing an automobile pedal...
of the foot and ankle, supination
Supination
Supination is a position of either the forearm or foot; in the forearm when the palm faces anteriorly, or faces up . Supination in the foot occurs when a person appears "bow-legged" with their weight supported primarily on the anterior of their feet.The hand is supine in the anatomical position...
and pronation
Pronation
In anatomy, pronation is a rotational movement of the forearm at the radioulnar joint, or of the foot at the subtalar and talocalcaneonavicular joints. For the forearm, when standing in the anatomical position, pronation will move the palm of the hand from an anterior-facing position to a...
of the forearm, internal rotation
Internal rotation
In anatomy, internal rotation is rotation towards the center of the body.The muscles of internal rotation include:* of arm/humerus at shoulder** Deltoid muscle** Subscapularis** Teres major** Latissimus dorsi...
and external rotation
External rotation
External rotation is rotation away from the center of the body.The muscles of external rotation include:* of arm/humerus at shoulder** Deltoid muscle** Infraspinatus** Teres minor* of thigh/femur at hip ** Gluteus maximus...
of the shoulder, as well as abduction
Abduction (kinesiology)
Abduction, in functional anatomy, is a movement which draws a limb away from the median plane of the body. It is thus opposed to adduction.-Upper limb:* of arm at shoulder ** Supraspinatus** Deltoid* of hand at wrist...
and adduction
Adduction
Adduction is a movement which brings a part of the anatomy closer to the middle sagittal plane of the body. It is opposed to abduction.-Upper limb:* of arm at shoulder ** Subscapularis** Teres major** Pectoralis major** Infraspinatus...
of the fingers and toes. Sizes are available from infant to extra large adult and are individually fit by consultants.
Treatment protocol
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 therapyPhysical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
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
Range of motion
Range of motion , is the distance that a movable object may normally travel while properly attached to another object. It is also called range of travel, particularly when talking about mechanical devices and in mechanical engineering fields...
gains occur. Time spent at end range vs. rapid increase in tension (force) allows for permanent length change.
Veterinary division
The Equine/CamelidCamelid
Camelids are members of the biological family Camelidae, the only living family in the suborder Tylopoda. Dromedaries, Bactrian Camels, llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos are in this group....
and Small Animal Dynasplint Systems aids in treating congenital
Congenital disorder
A congenital disorder, or congenital disease, is a condition existing at birth and often before birth, or that develops during the first month of life , regardless of causation...
and acquired
Acquired disorder
An acquired disorder is a medical condition which develops post-fetally; in contrast with a congenital disorder, which is present at birth. A congenital disorder may be antecedent to an acquired disorder ....
angular and flexural deformities. Congenital deformities are present at birth, and acquired deformities develop at some stage of the growing period. Acquired deformities manifest differently depending on the age of the horse.
The Equine Dynasplint systems are also being integrated into treatments for laxity and suspensory ligament injuries. Suspensory ligament injuries are common in athletic horses. The suspensory apparatus includes the suspensory ligament
Suspensory ligament
Suspensory ligament describes any ligament that supports a body part, especially an organ. Types include:* In humans** Suspensory ligament of thyroid gland or Berry's ligament** Suspensory ligament of clitoris...
that extends down from the back of the knee to the fetlock joint, the two sesamoid bones at the back of the fetlock joint, and the various ligaments connecting these bones to each other and to the pastern bone. These structures are crucial for supporting the horse's weight and acting as shock absorbers for the leg.
Educational outreach
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 MedicineUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore, was founded in 1807. It comprises some of the oldest professional schools in the nation and world. It is the original campus of the University System of Maryland. Located on 60 acres in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, it is part of the University System of Maryland...
. The funds associated with the professorship serve to guarantee the ongoing operation of the Department of Physical Therapy
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
and Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation (neuropsychology)
Rehabilitation of sensory and cognitive function typically involves methods for retraining neural pathways or training new neural pathways to regain or improve neurocognitive functioning that has been diminished by disease or traumatic injury....
Sciences by providing a permanent resource that is dedicated to this program.