Stiff Hand
Conditions
Keywords
joint mobilization, hand function
Brief summary
Although various treatment modalities have been investigated for the management of stiff hand, no previous study has examined the combined use of exercise and joint mobilization. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of peripheral joint mobilization, applied in addition to conventional exercise, on functional outcomes in patients with stiff hand.
Interventions
OTHERJoint Mobilization with Conventional Physiotherapy
Participants received conventional physiotherapy program (classical massage, scar massage, active and resistive hand-wrist exercises, adhesive bandage for edema control) in addition to joint mobilization. Joint mobilization was initiated at minimum 6 weeks post-injury or surgery. Participants were seated with forearm in neutral position. The joint proximal to the mobilized segment was stabilized. Distraction force was applied in the distal direction. Volar glides (8-12 repetitions) were applied for flexion deficits and dorsal glides for extension deficits according to the convex-concave rule, with each glide held at end range for approximately 30 seconds. Mobilization was applied for 4-6 minutes per joint. Total session duration: approximately 30 minutes. Frequency: 3 sessions/week for 4 weeks (12 sessions total).
OTHERConventional Physiotherapy Only
Participants received conventional physiotherapy program consisting of classical massage, scar massage, active and resistive hand-wrist exercises, and adhesive bandage for edema control. Total session duration: approximately 30 minutes. Frequency: 3 sessions/week for 4 weeks (12 sessions total).
Sponsors
Pamukkale University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Hand or forearm injury managed conservatively or surgically * Stiff hand criteria confirmed by Modified Weeks Test (0-20° difference between pre- and post-conditioning passive ROM) * No communication impairment * No prior neurological, orthopedic, or rheumatological condition or surgery in the affected extremity
Exclusion criteria
* Circulatory disorder or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome * Dupuytren's disease * Acute inflammation in any finger within the last week * Fracture due to non-traumatic causes * Significant edema
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Range of Motion | Assessments were performed at baseline, at the end of treatment (4 weeks), and at the 8-week follow-up. | Total Active Motion (TAM) assessed by metal finger goniometer. |
| Grip Strength | Assessments were performed at baseline, at the end of treatment (4 weeks), and at the 8-week follow-up. | Grip Strength was assessed by Jamar dynamometer (gross grip, pinch, pulp, lateral, tripod) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire | Assessments were performed at baseline, at the end of treatment (4 weeks), and at the 8-week follow-up. | This questionnaire evaluates the functionality of the hand and consists of 63 questions in total. Each question is scoredbetween 1-5 and the score of each section varies between 0-100. High total score indicates high satisfaction. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORUmut Eraslan
Pamukkale University
Outcome results
None listed