C5 wrist Contracture question?

[Chaz19]

I'm not sure if this is a rehab related question or care, but I've noticed that some higher cervical injuries (with no wrist movement) sometimes have contractures while others have stretched out wrists.

Has anyone purposely found a way to stabilize the wrist w/o braces?

How is it that some people naturally are able to keep their wrists in the functional outstretched position with some flexibility?

Type of injury?

Is there's a way to shorten the tendons for functional movement?

For instance this quadriplegic has some rigidity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U8hiR3VMIo

Thoughts?

[crags]

Do you mean wrists or fingers?

You can wear night braces to passively stretch out finger tendons and can stretch them out yourself against your chest or have others do it for you, though some prefer some degree of contracture. Some degree of ranging is desirable for the fingers.

Wrists, on the other hand you do not want to exceed normal ROM and stretch them out. This can lead to carpal bone issues, carpal tunnel, and other ligamentous/cartilage issues that will have to carry the excessive load because the joint has become overly lax.

[SCI-Nurse]

There is generally a difference in hand management between those who have a tenodesis and those who do not. A tenodesis grasp can be made more powerful be sprinting and specific types of ROM exercises/stretching the cause a slight flexion contracture of the fingers.

The wrist also should be splinter and properly ranged to maintain both any tenodesis, as well as preventing flexion contracture.

A good OT is your best resource regarding which of these is best for your situation.

(KLD)

[Chaz19]

Wrists. I don’t have any functional wrist movement. My fingers are stretched out daily. What I’m curious about is that if there’s a way to naturally find ways to create wrist stability.

For years I’ve been using leather gloves that stabilize so that I can reach out to grab things but I also have some flexibility so I .can manipulate objects through supination. Pretty tired of wearing gloves and would love to just have stiffer wrists

[Tetracyclone]

Duct tape.

[SCI-Nurse]

Wrists. I don’t have any functional wrist movement. My fingers are stretched out daily. What I’m curious about is that if there’s a way to naturally find ways to create wrist stability.
For years I’ve been using leather gloves that stabilize so that I can reach out to grab things but I also have some flexibility so I .can manipulate objects through supination. Pretty tired of wearing gloves and would love to just have stiffer wrists

A cock-up splint is really the only option. You can have either a dorsal or volar type. Here are a couple:

Dorsal:
https://www.orfit.com/blog/splint-in...k-up-orthosis/
https://www.brace-mart.com/supports-...hand-orthosis/
https://www.ncmedical.com/item_206.html

Volar:
https://www.orfit.com/blog/the-volar...k-up-orthosis/
https://www.rehabmart.com/product/li...lint-3950.html

Best if custom made for you by and OT or orthotist to avoid having pressure points and skin breakdown. They can be fit with a U-cuff for utensils, etc. as well.

(KLD)