New rehabilitation and splint strategies for the upper limb

• Grant number: 15/12897-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: November 01, 2015
• End date: January 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Jamil Natour
• Grantee: Paula Gabriel Silva
• Supervisor: Manuel Rubim Silva Santos
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Instituto Politécnico do Porto (IPP), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 13/14460-3 - Assessment of the effectiveness of night splint in the treatment of women with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joint of the dominant hand: randomized controlled trial, BP.DR

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is referred in several countries as an incapacitating disease with high levels of functional disability. Hands involvement occurs especially in the fingers, providing significant functional limitation, limiting the manual function. In the rehabilitation field occupational therapist can use splints to decrease inflammation and preventing deformity. Regarding splint use for patients with hand OA the recommendations are based on the trapeziometacarpal joint, and there is no recommendation for OA in the interphalangeal joints. The central theme of our PhD research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a night splint for interphalangeal joints of dominant hand in women with symptomatic OA. We are conducting a controlled, randomized, intention to treat study, evaluating pain, functional activity and hand dexterity. As we are getting a good progress in the study and to contribute to professional and scientific development we intend to do a short period of three months abroad We emphasize that the "Study Centre of Movement and Human Activity (CEMAH)" the Superior of Port Health Technology School - Polytechnic Institute of Porto (ESTSP-IPP) conducts scientific projects on human activity and is a qualified institution for professional development and learning new rehabilitation treatment techniques, especially in occupational therapy and also in rehabilitation research. This center covers a meaningful way our interest in the study of movement and human activity in the treatment of rehabilitation. Our goal is to undertake a research internship abroad that will bring contribution and applicability of new concepts of research, evaluation and treatment, creating new strategies in scientific literature about the movement, human activity, rehabilitation and quality of life of our patients. Through participation in scientific meetings, courses and projects developed by the Center and in learning new assessment tools, treatment and splint for upper limb. (AU)