gms | German Medical Science

14th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT)

17.06. - 21.06.2019, Berlin

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The Effectiveness of the Joint Active Systems (JAS) orthosis for treatment of prolonged joint stiffness

Meeting Abstract

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  • presenting/speaker Hanna Melchior - Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
  • Miriam Carmen - Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
  • Danit Langer - School of Occupational Therapy, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel

International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand. International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy. 14th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT), 11th Triennial Congress of the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT). Berlin, 17.-21.06.2019. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2020. DocIFSHT19-1051

doi: 10.3205/19ifssh1580, urn:nbn:de:0183-19ifssh15802

Published: February 6, 2020

© 2020 Melchior et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Outline

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Objective: JAS orthosis are designed to improve range of motion through a motion system which unloads the joint while stretching, thus reducing the pain felt in the joint at time of stretching.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of JAS splints for elbow, wrist and PIP joints with prolonged stiffness and examine the relationship between the effectiveness of JAS and function.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart study of clients that received a JAS orthosis between September 2015 and May 2018 was conducted. Demographic information, active range of motion (AROM) of affected joint and functional status were extracted. AROM was assessed with a goniometer and function with the Patient Rated Elbow Evaluation (PREE) and the Patient Rated Hand and Wrist Evaluation (PRHWE) questionnaires depending on the involved joint.

Results: Thirty-three participants participated in the study, 19 males and 14 females, average age 47 (SD=14.91). In 53% the dominant hand was involved and in 47% the non-dominant. The average time from injury to beginning of JAS application was 5.7 months (SD=4.34). 97% had received rehabilitation prior to using the JAS. 12 participants received an elbow orthosis, 11 a wrist orthosis and 10 a PIP joint orthosis. A paired sample t-Test revealed significant differences (p=.001) in AROM before (Mean= 23.25, SD=4.11) and after (Mean= 26.45, SD=4.88) treatment with the JAS. Furthermore, a significant negative moderate correlation (r= -.554; p=.05) was found between function and the change in AROM.

Conclusions: The JAS appears to be a useful tool for prolonged joint contracture. The application of JAS improved AROM and function in the present sample in which the majority received therapy prior to using the JAS and were referred due to prolonged contracture. Further research should use a prospective research method with a control group.