VETCOSED study: efficacy of compressive garments for patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome on shoulder stability and muscles strength.

Purpose: to assess the effect of wearing a compressive short-sleeve jacket on shoulder stability and rotator muscles in adult patients with a hypermobile subtype of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Materials And Methods: a quasi-experimental study with "Pre/Post" design (4 weeks with versus 4 weeks without), open, conducted on a national cohort. Shoulder rotators were assessed with an isokinetic device at 180°/s and 90°/s; frequency of shoulder stability defects, pain (Visual Analogical Scale), and satisfaction (Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology) were reported.

Results: 36 patients (35 women), mean age 37.9 years, wore jackets for a meanly 7.8 h/day. >70% were satisfied with the effect on arthralgia, instability, or function. QUEST results were high ( = 4.1, SD = 0.7). After jacket wear, the power of external rotators at 180°/s was significantly increased (+1.29 W, CI95%: 0.31; 2.28;  = 0.0318). At 90°/s, no significant difference was found, either on power or strength. The on-off effect highlights a significant difference in external and internal rotators power, whatever the speed. The occurrence of subluxation ( = 0.0140) and dislocations ( = 0.0163) decreased. Pain decreased from 3.5/10 to 2.5/10, without significance ( = 0.0964).

Conclusion: compressive CICATREX SED jackets are well supported by patients, impact the power of external rotators at high speed (180°/s), and improve joint stability.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONCompressive garments made to measure are beneficial to patients with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.Compressive CICATREX SED jackets clearly improve shoulder stability and help to promote muscle power in shoulder external rotators during high-speed movements.One month of jacket wearing seems to bring no lasting effect on shoulder-rotator power, so the jacket needs to be kept on for the benefits to be maintained.