Hand injuries result in the restriction of use of the injured hand within a splint or a plaster during the first 6 weeks which is critical for tissue healing. When the dominant hand is injured, patients experience more difficulty in daily life due to this restriction. Patients injured on their dominant hand mostly express that they are forced to use their non-dominant hand in their activities and as a result, the function of the non-dominant hand improves. However, the non-dominant hand function has not been analyzed in patients with restricted use of the dominant hand during the tissue healing period.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
43
This study aimed to assess whether the non-dominant hand function changes in patients using splints or casts on their dominant hand during the tissue healing period.
Gazi University Health Science Faculty Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department
Ankara, Yenimahalle, Turkey (Türkiye)
RECRUITINGhand function
Hand function will be assessed using the Jebsen Taylor Hand Function Test (JTHFT), a valid tool for evaluating impairment and disability. The test includes tasks involving common grip types in daily life, aiming to measure the speed of task performance. Standardized materials, easily available in clinics, are used. The test has seven tasks: writing a 24-letter text, turning cards, collecting small objects, eating, stacking checkers, collecting light wide objects, and collecting heavy wide objects. A 1-minute rest is given between tasks, and completion time is recorded in seconds. Before evaluation, examples will be provided, and individuals will perform a trial run of each task. In our study, only the unaffected, non-dominant hand will be assessed, starting with a single real assessment after the trial.
Time frame: 6 weeks
disability level
Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire will be measured. This questionnaire is used to assess upper extremity disorders and includes 30 items covering pain, stiffness, weakness, daily activities, and functionality. Patients consider their condition over the past week, with total scores ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate worse functional status.
Time frame: 6 weeks
Grip and pinch strengths
Gross grip strength will be measured with a hydraulic hand dynamometer (Jamar®) and fine grip strength with a pinchmeter. Participants will sit in a chair with back support, following the standard position: arm at the side, elbow at 90° flexion, and wrist neutral. Fine grip strength will be assessed in double (bipod) pinch, triple (tripod) pinch, and lateral grip positions. The forearm will be fully pronated for double and triple pinches, and midpronated for gross grip and lateral grips. Only the healthy non-dominant hand will be assessed. Measurements will be repeated three times, and participants will squeeze as hard as possible. The average of the three trials will be recorded in kilograms.
Time frame: 6 weeks
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