The examination of Dynamic Movement Orthoses in the management of shoulder instability in people with hEDS/HSD

Project Summary

Shoulder pain is common in hEDS/HSD with the neck and shoulder being described as the main areas of pain. Shoulder pain and instability can be severely debilitating leading to reduced arm function. Physiotherapy can be a key treatment for shoulder instability in hEDS/HSD to help with rehabilitation.

Dynamic Movement Orthoses are fabric elastomeric orthotic garments meaning that they support the joint while moving around by stretching and then returning to their original shape. They are made to fit each individual, areas of need are reinforced and there is a biomechanical panelling that strengthens the garment while moving. Therefore, they may help people with shoulder instability by providing a level of compression specific to the individual that supports the joint while moving and could improve neuromuscular activity. Pain, fatigue, and fear of injury have been suggested as common barriers to exercise for people with hEDS/HSD, and Dynamic Movement Orthoses could be a treatment that provides more stability and control of the joint while moving, reducing some barriers to exercise and recovery.

The project’s aims are to improve the treatment options for hEDS/HSD by rigorously and robustly researching the use of dynamic movement orthoses. The plan is to do 4 phases of research:

1. A systematic literature review on the interventions available to the hEDS/HSD unstable shoulder
2. Investigate patients experiences of treatment with unstable shoulder issues/investigate how Physiotherapists treat this patient group
3. Laboratory based experiments on the mechanisms of dynamic movement orthoses
4. Test their efficacy in an intervention-based study for patients with hEDS/HSD and unstable shoulders.

Contributors

• Primary Doctoral Supervisor: Dr Gemma Pearce, Associate Professor, Coventry University
• Secondary Doctoral Supervisor: Professor Shea Palmer, Coventry University and University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust
• Third Doctoral Supervisor: Dr Behnam Liaghat, University of Southern Denmark

Publications

Here is a publication examining a case study on the use of these orthoses for the hip joint of a person with hEDS.