Elbow Brace and Rehabilitation
摘要
Braces can be effective devices in different phases of elbow rehabilitation and their use, especially if integrated with other modalities of physical therapies, can improve the recovery in many elbow disorders. Elbow braces are generally preferred over casts, because they are more comfortable for the patients and more practical for the caregivers. On the basis of the function, we can identify two different types of braces: the protection and the mobilization braces. The protection braces are devices which prevent excessive stress on the articular surface, on the capsule, ligaments, or tendons; they are used after trauma, reconstructive surgeries, or in cases of inflammatory or degenerative situations. However, the mobilization braces, used to treat elbow stiffness, are mechanical devices exerting forces to stretch the retracted tissue stimulating the recovery of the elbow movement. A shared brace nomenclature can simplify the communication between the different professional figures involved. The authors present brace indications and protocols in elbow rehabilitation. In the future, three-dimensional (3D)-printing technology will permit to create personalized casts and braces that will be lighter, less bulky, water-friendly making more comfortable their long-term wear.