One-80° Pronosupinator FAQs: Patients

What is supination and pronation?
How effective are orthoses that stretch forearm rotation (palm up/palm down)?
When is it indicated for use?
When should it not be used?
How does it work?
What are the sizing options?
How do I know if it’s stretching or not?
Can I use my hand while wearing it?
How long should I wear it?
Can I wear it while I sleep?
I need to work on both palm up (supination) and palm down (pronation) directions. What do I do?
I only have a very little amount or no movement in forearm rotation. Is the One-80° Pronosupinator appropriate for me?
I have nearly full movement of my forearm rotation, but I want to gain more. Is the One-80° Pronosupinator appropriate for me?
I have full movement of my forearm, but it still feels stiff, tight or uncomfortable at the end of the movement or it feels difficult to get there. Is the One-80° Pronosupinator appropriate for me?
How do I put on the One-80° Pronosupinator?

What is supination and pronation?

These are technical terms for the movement of forearm rotation.

Supination = turning your forearm so your palm faces up

Pronation = turning your forearm so your palm faces down

How effective are orthoses that stretch forearm rotation (palm up/palm down)?

The average gain for people with stiffness is 40-50⁰ with similar stretching orthoses.

Stretching orthoses work despite:
– Not improving with other therapy
– Stiffness being present for a long time
– Changes to bone alignment due to injury
– Severe injury

When is it indicated for use?

Your treating health professional will be able to give you advice about whether the One-80° Pronosupinator is suitable for you. The following a typical indications for its use:

– For stiffness, loss of movement in palm up (supination) and/or palm down (pronation) movement
– For pain at the end of palm up (supination) and/or palm down (pronation) movement, associated with stiffness
– After wrist, forearm or elbow traumas (eg. distal radius fractures, ulnar fractures, elbow fractures, significant soft tissue injury)

When should it not be used?

Your treating health professional will be able to give you advice about whether the One-80° Pronosupinator is suitable for you. It is not appropriate in the following conditions:

– Unstable wrist, elbow or forearm (eg current subluxation or dislocation)
– Non-united fractures
– Heterotopic ossification
– Synostosis
– Neurovascular conditions must be monitored closely by a health professional.

How does it work?

The One-80° Pronosupinator holds your forearm firmly in either the palm up (supination) or palm down (pronation) position. Your can briefly rotate out of position but will be pulled firmly back into a stretched position when you relax. You can bend and straighten your elbow freely regardless of your forearm rotation. This allows your forearm to be stretched for longer periods of the time, allowing your soft tissues enough time to lengthen, resulting in improved movement. This is the best way of stretching soft tissues and improving rotation and is supported by research.

What are the sizing options?

We have 3 sizes:

paediatric (~6 years and up);

standard (adolescent and adult);

and large (adolescent and adult with BMI >30).

The most appropriate size can be determined using body height and wrist width measures or ulnar (forearm) length and wrist width measures. As an additional indicator, BMI can be used as a general guide. If your BMI is less than 30, the standard will fit. If patient’s BMI is more than 30, a large is required.

Please refer to the size guide for further sizing information.

How do I know if it’s stretching or not?

This is where many stretching orthoses fail. To be effective, orthoses must be fitted so they hold the arm at its end point of movement, in either palm up (supination) or palm down (pronation) positions. So, when you apply the One-80° Pronosupinator, you should test it is holding you in the best position.

To do this, first, apply the orthosis; second, use your other hand to attempt to push your forearm further around, in the same direction as you are stretching. If you can move your forearm further, you are not in the best position. In this case, adjust the elastic straps of the orthosis for a better position.

Can I use my hand while wearing it?

Yes. You can move your arm out of the stretch position for short and light activities. When you relax, the orthosis will take you back to a stretch position. There are many activities you can do whilst wearing your One-80° Pronosupinator. But activities that require fine control or a long time out of stretch position can be difficult.

How long should I wear it?

Your treating health professional will be able to give you advice about how long you should wear your One-80° Pronosupinator. Each person and injury may be different, so advice specific to your case is needed.

The typical wear time is 4 hours per day (this is total and can be spread across the day or night).  But some people may benefit from wearing it for longer each day and some may improve with shorter wear times.

Can I wear it while I sleep?

Please seek advice from your treating health professional about whether it is appropriate to wear your One-80° Pronosupinator overnight. It is important your skin, nerves and blood supply are assessed for suitability first.

I need to work on both palm up (supination) and palm down (pronation) directions. What do I do?

This question is best answered by your treating health professional. In some cases, people work on one direction to start, before addressing the other direction. Other people split their time between both directions. One option is not necessarily better than the other.

I only have a very little amount or no movement in forearm rotation. Is the One-80° Pronosupinator appropriate for me?

Likely. There is no minimum amount of movement required for the One-80° Pronosupinator to be appropriate. The overall appropriateness of the One-80° Pronosupinator should be determined with your treating health professional.

I have nearly full movement of my forearm rotation, but I want to gain more. Is the One-80° Pronosupinator appropriate for me?

Likely. The One-80° Pronosupinator can be applied to optimise stretch even for those with very good movement. The overall appropriateness of the One-80° Pronosupinator should be determined with your treating health professional.

I have full movement of my forearm, but it still feels stiff, tight or uncomfortable at the end of the movement or it feels difficult to get there. Is the One-80° Pronosupinator appropriate for me?

Likely. The One-80° Pronosupinator can help to improve comfort and suppleness of movement when stiffness/tightness is present. The overall appropriateness of the One-80° Pronosupinator should be determined with your treating health professional.

How do I put on the One-80° Pronosupinator?

Please refer to our pictorial guide here.