PURPOSE AND METHODS:In order to determine forces acting upon an articular joint during hand rehabilitation, a dynamic splint was built and connected to a dynamometer (capable of measuring forces in the range 0 -600 gf). Through trigonometric calculation, the authors measured the flexing force in the proximal interphalangeal joint of the middle finger at 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90° of flexion. Measurements were obtained in a population of 40 voluntary adults, 20 females and 20 males, This flexing force was correlated with age, sex, and anthropometric measures. RESULTS: Force in the flexing tendon is maximal at the start of flexion, and decreases as the angle of joint flexion increases. A relationship was observed between finger length and the magnitude of the force exerted on the tendon: the longer the finger, the greater the force exherted upon the tendon. Force is greater at all the measured angles, (except 30°) in males and in individuals of higher stature, and bigger arm span. CONCLUSIONS: The flexing force can be effectively measured at all flexing angles, that it correlates with a number of different anthropometric parameters, and that such data are likely to open the way for future studies.

Objective: To evaluate the use of a static positioning orthesis for boutonnière deformity on the thumb. Methods: Twenty women aged between 25 and 74 years old were included in the study. They were distributed at random into a control group and a group using orthesis. Pinch and Jamar's dynamometers, Pain Visual Scale and O'Connor's Functional Evaluation were applied to all patients. Wilcoxon's, Mann Whitney's and Scheffe's tests were used for the statistical analysis. Results: After 30 days in the intra-group analysis, there was functional improvement, evaluated by O'Connor's test in 40% of the controls and 70% of these patients using orthesis. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in any of the evaluated parameters. Conclusions: These results suggest that orthesis is beneficial to the functional improvement; the tested model was comfortable and well accepted by patients. Nevertheless, subsequent studies of longer duration and including more subjects are needed.

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