title: Efficacy of Paraffin Wax Bath with and without Joint Mobilization Techniques in Rehabilitation of post-Traumatic stiff hand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Post-traumatic stiff hand is common a condition which causes pain and disability, the paraffin wax bath and joint mobilizations have the key role in its rehabilitation. We conducted the present study to determine the efficacy of paraffin wax bath with mobilization techniques compared with joint mobilization alone.
  
  
  METHODS
  This single blind randomized control trial was conducted on 71 patients in department of physical therapy and rehabilitation, Riphah International University Islamabad, and patients with post-traumatic stiff hand after distal upper extremity fractures, were included. The patients were randomized into two groups: the joint mobilization techniques with paraffin wax bath were included in group A, and joint mobilization techniques without paraffin wax bath in group B. The study variables were pain score on visual analogue scale (VAS) 0/10, thumb function score (TFS) and passive range of motion (PROM) of wrist flexion, extension, radial and ulnar deviation, and were compared at baseline and at completion on plan-of-care after six weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy one patients with post-traumatic stiff hand were enrolled and placed randomly into two groups. The baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. Six week after intervention, patients in group A had more improvement in pain score (p=0.001), TFS (p=0.003), and PROM of wrist flexion (p=0.002), extension (p=0.003), radial deviation (p=0.013), and ulnar deviation (p=.004), as compared to group B. However, in group B the improvement was less in pain score (p=0.104), TFS (p=0.520), and PROM of wrist flexion (p=0.193), extension (p=0.1081), radial deviation (p=0.051), and ulnar deviation (p=.168), as compared to group A.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Paraffin wax bath with joint mobilization techniques are more effective than mobilization techniques without paraffin wax bath in the rehabilitation of post traumatic stiff hand.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Fozia Sibtain, Assistant Professor, Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fozia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sibtain
authors.affiliation: Dr. Asghar Khan, Associate Professor, Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Asghar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Dr. Syed Shakil-ur-Rehman, Assistant Professor, Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Syed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shakil-Ur-Rehman
keywords: Joint mobilization techniques; Paraffin wax bath; Post-traumatic stiff hand