The use and effectiveness of elbow splints in the Rett syndrome.

Incessant hand to mouth movements are often noted as part of the movement disorder of the hands in the Rett syndrome (RS). Elbow splints were designed to inhibit this behavior and prevent further injury to the hands. A study of eight RS patients was conducted to determine the effectiveness of splinting. Results were very positive and indicated increased socialization, increased interaction with the environment, decreased hand to mouth movements, and decreased hand wringing behavior.