Effectiveness of the static progressive Joint Active System splint in improving upper extremity joint stiffness

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Upper extremity injuries frequently lead to joint stiffness due to capsular contracture.
• Traditional treatments focus on stretching, often involving physical or occupational therapy.
• Limited motion after trauma or surgery can significantly impact function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the Joint Active System (JAS) static-progressive splint in enhancing range of motion (ROM).
• To determine if the JAS splint is beneficial for stiff joints after other treatments have plateaued.
• To assess the effectiveness of the JAS splint in patients with post-traumatic or post-surgical upper extremity stiffness.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 39 patients treated with the JAS splint between 2015 and 2019.
• Inclusion criteria focused on patients with upper extremity trauma, post-surgical stiffness, and plateaued response to therapy.
• Data collected included range of motion (ROM) before and after JAS treatment and functional scores.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in ROM were observed across all treated joints: elbow (66.5° to 95.7°), wrist (63.5° to 81.1°), and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints (33.2° to 51.8°).
• Functional scores also showed significant improvement for elbow and wrist joints post-treatment.
• The JAS splint demonstrated effectiveness even when initiated many months after the initial injury.

Conclusions:

• The Joint Active System static-progressive splint is an effective treatment for improving ROM in stiff elbow, wrist, and finger joints.
• The splint provides benefits for patients who have reached a plateau with conventional therapy.
• This intervention can restore motion and function following injury or surgery.