Hand splinting in rheumatoid arthritis. A perspective on current knowledge and directions for research.

A theoretical rationale for the use of hand splints in rheumatoid arthritis and selected literature relevant to the efficacy of splints in the acutely inflamed or chronic rheumatoid joint are briefly reviewed. The purposes of this review are to provide a broad perspective on nonsurgical hand splinting and to suggest some directions for future research based on this perspective.