CONTRACTURES
CONTRACTURES
Submitted to:
Clinical Instructor
Submitted by:
Tifannie P. Dacalos
Bibliography:
5. https://doi.org/10.25107/2641-1407-v3-id1023
Summary:
Three individuals with persistent neurological deficits that had resulted in a non-
functional hand were provided Innovative Tone Normalization Therapy (ITNT) as a
novel therapy technique to address spasticity and contractures. The ITNT is an iterative
process that is predicated on the following three basic principles: The first step was the
relaxation of tone in order to achieve the hand's functional position. Methods such as
qigong and mirror therapy were used during this step. The second step involved the use
of sectional orthotics or splints combined with stretching in order to improve passive
range of motion. Multiple sections splints were developed, including a palm splint to
open the palmar portion of the problematic hand, a web space splint to enhance the
amount of web space, and a volar wrist splint to extend the wrist. The third step was to
gradually reduce the tone of the flexor muscles in order to let the body form new muscle
memories. Following ITNT, subject 001 continued to exhibit moderate spasticity,
whereas persons 002 and 003 saw a complete resolution of their chronic spasticity. All
three subjects displayed markedly enhanced hand function.
Reaction:
Following my reading of the research, I agree with the authors that ITNT is
providing encouraging results that may alter the standard approaches to treatment and
prevention of this condition. I had no idea that this innovative approach would turn out to
be effective and had the potential to completely transform the lives of the three people
who took part in this research. But I suppose that they had just found a really good cure
that would allow people who wish to return to their natural state.
In addition, I recently arrived at the realization that being in this kind of situation is
analogous to being confined in a place where you are only able to perform a restricted
number of activities. You can only pray for something while you are in that room to help
you escape from there. And those three participants were quite fortunate to have ITNT
save them.