The Effectiveness of Joint Mobilization in Stiff Hand Treatment

July 8, 2026 updated by: UMUT ERASLAN, Pamukkale University

Effects of Joint Mobilization on Hand Function in Patients With Stiff Hand: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Although various treatment modalities have been investigated for the management of stiff hand, no previous study has examined the combined use of exercise and joint mobilization. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of peripheral joint mobilization, applied in addition to conventional exercise, on functional outcomes in patients with stiff hand.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

34

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Hand or forearm injury managed conservatively or surgically
  • Stiff hand criteria confirmed by Modified Weeks Test (0-20° difference between pre- and post-conditioning passive ROM)
  • No communication impairment
  • No prior neurological, orthopedic, or rheumatological condition or surgery in the affected extremity

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Circulatory disorder or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
  • Dupuytren's disease
  • Acute inflammation in any finger within the last week
  • Fracture due to non-traumatic causes
  • Significant edema

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Joint mobilization with conventional physiotherapy
Other: Joint Mobilization with Conventional Physiotherapy
Participants received conventional physiotherapy program (classical massage, scar massage, active and resistive hand-wrist exercises, adhesive bandage for edema control) in addition to joint mobilization. Joint mobilization was initiated at minimum 6 weeks post-injury or surgery. Participants were seated with forearm in neutral position. The joint proximal to the mobilized segment was stabilized. Distraction force was applied in the distal direction. Volar glides (8-12 repetitions) were applied for flexion deficits and dorsal glides for extension deficits according to the convex-concave rule, with each glide held at end range for approximately 30 seconds. Mobilization was applied for 4-6 minutes per joint. Total session duration: approximately 30 minutes. Frequency: 3 sessions/week for 4 weeks (12 sessions total).
Active Comparator: Conventional Physiotherapy Only
Other: Conventional Physiotherapy Only
Participants received conventional physiotherapy program consisting of classical massage, scar massage, active and resistive hand-wrist exercises, and adhesive bandage for edema control. Total session duration: approximately 30 minutes. Frequency: 3 sessions/week for 4 weeks (12 sessions total).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Range of Motion
Time Frame: Assessments were performed at baseline, at the end of treatment (4 weeks), and at the 8-week follow-up.
Total Active Motion (TAM) assessed by metal finger goniometer.
Assessments were performed at baseline, at the end of treatment (4 weeks), and at the 8-week follow-up.
Grip Strength
Time Frame: Assessments were performed at baseline, at the end of treatment (4 weeks), and at the 8-week follow-up.
Grip Strength was assessed by Jamar dynamometer (gross grip, pinch, pulp, lateral, tripod)
Assessments were performed at baseline, at the end of treatment (4 weeks), and at the 8-week follow-up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire
Time Frame: Assessments were performed at baseline, at the end of treatment (4 weeks), and at the 8-week follow-up.
This questionnaire evaluates the functionality of the hand and consists of 63 questions in total. Each question is scoredbetween 1-5 and the score of each section varies between 0-100. High total score indicates high satisfaction.
Assessments were performed at baseline, at the end of treatment (4 weeks), and at the 8-week follow-up.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Pamukkale University

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Umut Eraslan, Pamukkale University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 24, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 11, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

March 11, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 8, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 8, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 8, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • E-60116787-020-622755

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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