What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess the contraction test's effectiveness in detecting contractile activity and predicting recurrence of stiffness in the PIP joint.

June 21, 2026Journal of Hand TherapyOpen Access

The contraction test to detect and predict recurrence of stiffness in the proximal interphalangeal joint

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

Longitudinal cohort study evaluates contraction test for predicting PIP joint stiffness recurrence, aiding treatment decisions.

To assess the contraction test's effectiveness in detecting contractile activity and predicting recurrence of stiffness in the PIP joint.
Longitudinal retrospective cohort study design with 57 patients
Patients treated with an elastic tension digital neoprene orthosis
Follow-up assessments included a contraction test and passive range of motion measurements for up to six months.
At baseline, the contraction test was positive in all patients. After three weeks, the mean passive range of motion gain was 29° for the longer-wear group and 19° for the shorter-wear group.
At follow-up, 49% of patients achieved a negative contraction test, with no recurrence in this group.
Patients with a persistent positive contraction test (51%) had a higher risk of recurrence despite initial improvements.

Punsola-Izard et al. (2026) studied this question.

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark