Abstract
The elbow, the middle joint of the upper limb, enables the hand to be placed at various
distances from the body. The articular, muscular and neuromotor complexity of the
elbow is such that it is often prone to stiffness, especially if immobilized for long
periods of time. Therefore, mobilization of the posttraumatic elbow must be started
early. In the presence of lesions to the ligamentous structures, the joint must be
protected to prevent these structures from being placed under tension during movement.
Rehabilitation of the elbow includes the use of braces. Different types of brace are
used depending on clinical situation and the objectives to be achieved. They can have
fixed protection or locked articulation, allow an adjustable range of movement to
restrict flexion-extension and pronation-supination, or allow dynamic and static progressive
movement. The latter plays a special role in conservative treatment and following
surgical release. However, the effectiveness of braces in the rehabilitation treatment
of elbow stiffness depends on the patient’s compliance. Their use requires a considerable
amount of physician time to achieve the objectives envisaged by the rehabilitation
program.
Key Words
brace - elbow - rehabilitation - stiffness - trauma
