ABSTRACT
Despite the high incidence of wrist diseases and general use of commercial wrist orthoses, there is not precise information concerning the extent of immobility that these orthoses provide. Thus this study aimed to investigate and compare the range of motion [ROM] achieved from four common commercial orthoses in normal subjects. Forty students from Rehabilitation faculty of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical sciences [22 females and 18 males] aged 19-25 years, with normal range of motion, and no history of injury or pain in the right wrist participated in this study. The ROM of the right wrist was measured by electrogoniometer. Then different commercial orthoses [Teknotan, Teb o sanat, LP and OPPO] were worn in random order. Then the subjects were asked to move their wrist in flexion and extension direction as much as possible. Each movement was repeated for three times. Sixty seconds rest time was applied between each successive orthosis. Data analysis performed using repeated-measure ANOVA test. Data analysis showed that the mean range of flexion [p=0.001] and extension [p<0.001] were significantly different among four orthoses. Bonferroni test showed that OPPO orthosis [40 +/- 10] permitted significantly less flexion in comparison with Teb o sanat and Tecnotan [p=0.003 and p=0.02, respectively]. Teb o Sanat orthosis [52 +/- 10] permitted significantly less extension in comparison with LP and Tecnotan [p=0.001 and p=0.006, respectively]. The results showed that none of these commercial orthosis immobilized the wrist. Therefore, specifications of the orthosis and the fitting of the orthosis with hand should be considered by the prescribers