Range of motion at the wrist: a comparison study of four wrist extension orthoses and the free hand.

Objective: This study compared the total wrist range of motion permitted by four different styles of wrist extension orthoses and the free hand.

Method: Using a repeated-measures, counterbalanced design, 40 healthy female volunteers 20 to 39 years of age shot a basketball while free handed and while wearing each of four wrist extension orthoses: AlignRite; Rolyan D-Ring Long; Rolyan D-Ring Short; and a custom-made, thumb hole design orthosis. The motion at the wrist was measured by an electrogoniometer.