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Proposition of a protocol to evaluate upper-extremity functional deficits and compensation mechanisms: application to elbow contracture

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Orthopaedic Science

Abstract

Objective

Instrumented gait analysis is widely accepted as an objective assessment of lower-extremity function. Conversely, upper-extremity function suffers from lack of objective evaluation. The present paper aims at proposing a protocol to be used to clinically and objectively evaluate upper-extremity function whatever the pathological joint. Secondly, it aims at better understanding the consequences on upper-extremity function and the compensation mechanisms induced by elbow contracture. Elbow contracture was simulated in this study by using a brace.

Design

Twelve healthy subjects followed an instrumented 3D movement analysis while performing 11 daily life movements. The movements were performed with 3 different elbow contracture conditions, simulated by wearing an adjustable elbow brace.

Results

The proposed protocol was successful in creating a wide range of motion at all the upper-extremity joints. The activity-related range of motion and the mean range of motion computed on the whole set of daily life movements were effective in evaluating the severity of elbow contracture. The lack of elbow flexion was compensated by trunk flexion, hand flexion and radial deviation, and combined movement of shoulder flexion, abduction, and humeral internal rotation. Deficit in elbow extension was mainly compensated by the use of trunk flexion.

Conclusion

A protocol could be proposed for the objective evaluation of upper-extremity function. Its application to elbow contracture suggests that loss of elbow flexion affects more movements than loss of elbow extension.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the subjects who took part in this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Author notes

  1. Laetitia Fradet

    Present address: Axe Robotique, Biomécanique Sport Santé, Institut PPRIME, UPR3346 CNRS Université de Poitiers ENSMA, SP2MI, Téléport 2,Bd Pierre et Marie Curie, Futuroscope, 86360, Chasseneuil du Poitou, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Trauma Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Laetitia Fradet, Beate Liefhold, Oliver Rettig, Michael Akbar & Sebastian I. Wolf

  2. Department of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

    Thomas Bruckner

Authors
  1. Laetitia Fradet
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  2. Beate Liefhold
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  6. Sebastian I. Wolf
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Correspondence to Laetitia Fradet.

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Fradet, L., Liefhold, B., Rettig, O. et al. Proposition of a protocol to evaluate upper-extremity functional deficits and compensation mechanisms: application to elbow contracture. J Orthop Sci 20, 321–330 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-014-0679-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00776-014-0679-z

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