Abstract

Object:This study is aimed to explore the curative effect of static progressive stretch (SPS) in the rehabilitation of post-traumatic elbow joint contractures.

Method:Thirty post-traumatic elbow joint contractures inpatients and outpatients treated at the researchers' hospital from December 2017 to March 2020 were selected as subjects and divided into the treatment group (15 patients) and the control group (15 patients) by means of a random number table. The control group received conventional rehabilitation treatment, while the treatment group adopted SPS orthoses as an adjunct. After 8 weeks of treatment, the range of joint motion (ROM) and the pain VAS of the two groups were compared with each other.

Result:The elbow joint ROM of both groups before treatment were57.30±15.32° in the treatment group and 62±10.58° in the control group respectively. The elbow joint ROM of both groups after treatment were98.30±11.32° in the treatment group and 75±15.32° in the control group respectively. The post- and pre-treatment difference in elbow joint ROM was statistically significant (P?0.05). The ROM difference between the treatment group and the control group 8 weeks after treatment was statistically significant (P?0.05). After treatment, pain was relieved (P?0.05) in both groups with more obvious pain relief observed in the treatment group (P?0.05).

Conclusion:SPS orthoses applied as an adjunct to the conventional rehabilitation therapy can significantly improve the ROM in patients with post-traumatic elbow joint contractures and relieve the pain, with promising treatment compliance.

Keywords

static progressive stretch (SPS) orthoses, joint contractures, ROM, pain, peripheral muscles, guidance in rehabilitation, elaborated hereafter, fibrous tissues, rehabilitation training, muscle strength, clinical research