Table 2.
Identified hand therapy programmes and their effects
| Reference No. | Quality of study† | Intervention | Outcome | |||||
| Programme | Phase | Target of treatment | Period | Improved | Unimproved | |||
| 6 | 4/5 | Conventional rehabilitation* | Acute to convalescence | Deterioration of comprehensive health status | 5 weeks | QOL
Comprehensive health Physical function Psychological function Social relation General health |
None | |
| 17,19 | 5/5, 4/5 | Shoulder abduction orthosis | At least convalescence to chronic | Contracture of shoulder joint | 4–12 weeks | AROM (shoulder flexion and abduction at 4 weeks) | AROM (shoulder external rotation at 4 weeks)
AROM (shoulder at 12 weeks) Upper extremity function QOL |
|
| 13 | 3/5 | Dynamic MCP joint flexion orthosis | Chronic | Extension contracture of the MCP joint | 8 weeks | AROM (MCP joint)
Hand function |
AROM (PIP joint)
Hand function Degree of ADL independence QOL |
|
| 2 | 4/5 | Hand compression bandage | Not clear | Oedema of the hand | 4 weeks | ROM (MCP joint)
Circumference of the hand Skin thickness Pain intensity |
ROM (PIP joint)
Grip strength Hand function |
|
| 20 | 1/5 | Positive pressure glove | Not clear | Difficulty of daily tasks | 10 days | Hand function
Fine motor Gross motor |
None | |
| 23 | 4/5 | Soft tissue mobilisation | Chronic | Contracture and hypertrophic scar | Not clear | None | ROM (wrist)
Burn scar Pliability Vascularity |
|
| 11,21 | 4/5
4/5 |
Massage therapy | Convalescence to chronic | Hypertrophic scar,23
Hypertrophic scar and depression33 |
1–3 months | Pain intensity
Pruritus intensity Scar Thickness Melanin Erythema TEWL Elasticity Pigmentation Pliability Vascularity Size Dryness Depression |
Scar
Sebum level Pigmentation |
|
| 15 | 3/5 | Motor imagery | Acute | Motor dysfunction | 2 weeks | ROM (thumb and wrist) | None | |
| 14 | 4/5 | Physical rehabilitation** | Acute to chronic | Shoulder joint contracture | 6 weeks | ROM (shoulder)
Flexion Abduction External rotation |
None | |
| 24 | 4/5 | Xbox KinectTM | Acute to convalescence | Activity limitation, upper extremity dysfunction and pain | Maximum
1 week |
Daily activity time | Upper extremity function
Pain intensity Kinesiophobia |
|
| 16 | 3/5 | TENS | Not clear (outpatients) | Pruritus | 3 weeks | Pruritus intensity | None | |
| 22 | 4/5 | Laser treatment | Chronic | Contracture, upper extremity dysfunction, decline of local circulation, hypertrophic scar and pain | 3 weeks | Pain intensity | Pressure sense
PROM |
|
| 22 | 4/5 | Ultrasound treatment | Chronic | Same as above | 3 weeks | None | Pain intensity
Pressure sense PROM |
|
| 22 | 4/5 | Matrix rhythm treatment | Chronic | Same as above | 3 weeks | Pressure sense | Pain intensity
PROM |
|
| 12,18 | 4/5,4/5 | Extracorporeal shock wave therapy | convalescence | Scar pain,24 Scar pruritus30 | 3–4 weeks | Pain
Intensity Threshold Frequency Pruritus Intensity Consequences Direction of improvement |
Pruritus
Frequency Degree Duration Disability |
|
†The friction as score indicates the calculated score over the total score in the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).
*ROM exercise, ADL training, patient education and psychological support for motivation to treatment.
**Positioning, shoulder abduction orthosis, stretching exercise, passive ROM and active ROM.
The numbers in the leftmost column are the reference numbers of the 16 citations.
TENS: transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation
ADL: activities of daily living
PROM: passive range of motion
AROM: active range of motion
MCP: Metacarpophalangeal
PIP: proximal interphalangeal
QOL: quality of life
ROM: range of motion
TEWL: transepidermal water loss