NCT01914991

Combined Static and Dynamic Orthotic Treatment of the PIP Joint

Treatment of the PIP Joint Flexion Contracture: Combined Static and Dynamic Orthotic Intervention Compared With Traditional Combine Therapy. A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 4
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 62 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Malaga · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Study Design: Randomized controlled clinical study. Introduction: Physiotherapeutic intervention aiming to restore mobility using different techniques as stretching, hot packs, exercises, therapeutic ultrasound and orthotics. No scientific evidence has been found correlating improved joint mobility and the use of these techniques. Application techniques of orthoses to reshape the soft tissues have been well detailed, however, no scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness on proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) lag extension resolution using them as a single treatment has been found. Purpose of the Study: The purpose of the study was to test the effectiveness of static and dynamic orthosis in patients with a PIPJ flexion retraction using them as a single treatment compared with traditional combined therapies. Method: 63 participants were included in the study. Patients who used splints were compared to a control group who received conventional treatment. Active and passive mobility were measured before the experiment and again three months after. All the patients were measured under the same conditions and treated by the same hand therapist. The relationship between contracture resolution and function was measured using the DASH Spanish Version.

Conditions

• Health Behaviour

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	dynamic extension contracture orthotic	A dynamic orthosis was constructed in the experimental group using the same style of dynamic extension contracture orthotic. A mobilizing force of 250 - 300 gm/cm2 was set in each one. Patients were instructed to wear it for at least 6 hours per day and then removed it for ADL (Activity Daily Living). A static orthosis was constructed using orfitcast material to the maximum, pain-free length allowed by the tissues at night. Static and dynamic orthoses were checked once a week and adjusted as necessary.
PROCEDURE	conventional treatment Physical Therapy	Traditional treatment was applied to one control group. The treatment consisted of 10 minutes of local thermotherapy (paraffin), active exercises at the PIPJ and DIPJ (Distal interphalangeal joint), 3 sets of 15 repetitions of each exercise extending and flexing of the PIPJ with metacarpophalangeal joint from 0° to 90° respectively. Distal interphalangeal joint exercises were conducted with identical repetitions. The metacarpophalangeal joint and PIPJ exercises took place at 0 ° and involved stretching (5 sets of 3 reps, holding for 10 seconds) and Therapeutic U.S (0.8 w/cm2 / 7 minutes).

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-06-01
• Primary completion: 2011-09-01
• Completion: 2013-01-01
• First posted: 2013-08-02
• Last updated: 2014-05-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Spain