IMPORTANCE: A dynamic elastomeric fabric orthosis could be a novel nonpharmacological treatment of motor symptoms among people with Parkinson's disease (PD). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of the orthosis in improving manual dexterity among people with PD. DESIGN: A randomized trial with 60 participants (control group, n = 20; experimental group, n = 40). Manual dexterity was assessed in on-off states of the disease, with and without the orthosis. SETTING: Burgos University Hospital (Burgos, Spain). PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive nonprobabilistic sampling. Patients were included if they had been diagnosed with PD, had motor symptoms in at least one upper limb, and attended the hospital's neurology department. Participants were ages 48 to 89 yr, with an average disease duration of 5.38 yr (SD 4.23). Exclusion criteria were tremor due to another neurological disease or a Montreal Cognitive Assessment score <= 26. INTERVENTION: The experimental group used the orthosis on the most affected upper limb for 2 mo; the control group participants did not receive the orthosis. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Manual dexterity was measured with the Purdue Pegboard Test, Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test, and Square Test. Paired t tests for related samples and analysis of covariance tests were used. RESULTS: Some participants improved on some manual dexterity items while wearing the orthosis. However, it was not sustained when the orthosis was removed after 2 mo of use. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The orthosis may improve certain aspects of manual dexterity and functionality among people with PD, but only while it is worn.
Copyright by the Amerrican Occupational Therapy Association Inc. Reprinted with permission.

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