Final answer:
Individuals with a C6 Spinal Cord Injury can typically extend their wrist and tilt it to the side away from the body. They often use a tenodesis splint to aid in hand function, taking advantage of wrist extension to passively flex the fingers for better grip.
Step-by-step explanation:
At the level of a C6 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI), a person has some wrist control but typically lacks full hand function. They can demonstrate wrist extension, which is the ability to bend the hand up towards the shoulder, and radial deviation, the ability to tilt the hand to the side away from the body. Additionally, they can stabilize the wrist to some extent and have the strength to bend their fingers to make a fist.
The type of splint often recommended for individuals with C6 SCI is a tenodesis splint. This splint aids in improving hand function by taking advantage of the wrist extension to passively flex the fingers, aiding in grasping objects. The splint supports the wrist in the optimal position to maximize the hand function available to the person, enhancing their ability to perform daily activities.