Plaster Drop-Out Casts as a Dynamic Means to Reduce Muscle Contracture

Abstract

Physical therapy for reducing muscle contracture, whether by passive stretch or active exercise, is often undermined by the joint position usually maintained outside the time of therapy. Any maintained joint position may be a serious problem, especially in the presence of spasticity, for example, upper extremity flexor pattern after a cerebrovascular accident or the total flexor or extensor responses of the limbs following head trauma or CNS infection. Plaster of Paris splinting that maintains the joint at the maximum comfortable range and allows further motion out of the contracted position can be effective in preventing further loss of range of motion and even in gaining additional range of motion. Such casts can be made in physical therapy with easily obtained materials. This case report illustrates this technique.