Cochrane · systematic review · CD007455
Stretch for the treatment and prevention of contractures
Harvey, LA, Katalinic, OM, Herbert, RD, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2017 · Cochrane Library
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
12
current version
GRADE rated
8
No studies
4
Included studies
NR
No studies 4 · 33.3%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 0 · 0%Low 3 · 25%Moderate 1 · 8.3%High 4 · 33.3%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Questions and results
Current version onlyShort‐term effects of stretch for the treatment and prevention of contractures in people with neurological conditions
Population: people with neurological conditions1
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Joint mobility Range of motion Scale from 0°‐135° (higher number reflects better outcome) | no estimate extracted | 18 studies · 549 participants | High |
Quality of life | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Pain 10‐point VAS (lower score reflects better outcome) | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 174 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness |
Activity limitations 18‐point upper limb scale (higher score reflects better outcome) | no estimate extracted | 7 studies · 237 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness |
Participation restrictions | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Adverse events | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Short‐term effects of stretch for the treatment and prevention of contractures in people with non‐neurological conditions
Population: people with non‐neurological conditions1
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Joint mobility Range of motion Scale from 0°‐90° (higher number reflects better outcome) | no estimate extracted | 18 studies · 865 participants | High |
Quality of life 160‐point Burn Specific Health Scale‐Brief questionnaire (higher score reflects better outcome) | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 97 participants | Moderate Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness |
Pain 10‐point VAS (lower score reflects better outcome) | no estimate extracted | 7 studies · 422 participants | High |
Activity limitations 100‐point Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire (lower score reflects better outcome) | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 356 participants | High |
Participation restrictions 100 mm return to usual work activities VAS (higher score reflects better outcome) | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 129 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness |
Adverse events | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Comparison
Population: People with neurological conditions with contractures
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Joint mobility (immediate effects following stretch) Degrees | no estimate extracted | 9 studies · 263 participants | Moderate |
Joint mobility (short‐term effects following stretch) Degrees | no estimate extracted | 8 studies · 221 participants | High |
Joint mobility (long‐term effects following stretch) Degrees | no estimate extracted | 7 studies · 201 participants | High |
Quality of life (all time periods) | no estimate extracted | 0 studies · 0 participants | Ungraded |
Pain (immediate effects following stretch) Standard deviations | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 136 participants | Moderate Downgraded: imprecision, inconsistency |
Pain (short‐term effects following stretch) centimetres | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 38 participants | Moderate Downgraded: imprecision, inconsistency |
Pain (long‐term effects following stretch) Standard deviations | no estimate extracted | 4 studies · 132 participants | High |