Does Restriction of the Dominant Hand Due to Injury Improve Non-Dominant Hand Function?

Gazi University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Dexterity; Fractures; Tendon Injuries; Nerve Injury

Treatments: Other: Restriction of the Dominant Hand Due to Splint Use

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06783205

2024-390

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment: 43 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Individuals who need to use a splint for 6 weeks due to any pathology in their dominant hand
• Ages between 18-65
• Individuals who are within the first 10 days after the operation

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals with an isolated thumb injury
• Those who require bilateral use of the splint/have bilateral pathology
• Those who have a condition that prevents the use of the non-dominant hand
• Those who can use both hands equally/do not have a dominant side (ambidextrous/two-handed)
• Those who have a cooperative status that will not comply with the treatment program
• Data from individuals who do not use the splint as described during the 6-week follow-up period will not be included in the analysis.

Trial design

43 participants in 1 patient group

patient with orthosis/cast

Description:

Patients referred to the Hand Rehabilitation Unit of Gazi University, Faculty of Health Sciences, for physiotherapy and rehabilitation due to hand-related pathologies, and who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria, will be informed about the study. No treatment other than routine care will be administered. Only two evaluations will be conducted: one at the first session and the other at the end of the 6th week.

Treatment:

Other: Restriction of the Dominant Hand Due to Splint Use