Effects of Early Manual Therapy on Functional Outcomes After Volar Plating of Distal Radius Fractures

Dokuz Eylul University32 enrolled

Overview

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of early manual therapy on function, pain, range of motion (ROM), hand and pinch grip strength and disability level in patients underwent volar plating after distal radius fracture (DRF). Patients were randomly divided into two groups: Routin Physiotherapy (RP) or Early Manual Therapy (EMT). While RP group received routine physiotherapy, EMT group received routine physiotherapy plus Mulligan's Mobilization With Movement technique. All treatments were done two sessions a week, through 12 weeks. Function, pain, range of motion (ROM), hand and pinch grip strength and disability level of patients were assessed. Measurements were made at postoperative week 3, 6 and 12.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Distal Radius Fracture

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * An age of eighteen years or older * An unstable fracture of the distal end of the radius * Fixation with a volar locking plate * Able to read, write, and understand Turkish * Willing and able to attend the study Exclusion Criteria: * Previous fracture on the injured side * Concurrent fracture in contralateral upper extremity * Accompanied bony and soft tissue injuries other than radius fracture * Inflammatory joint diseases, metabolic diseases and neurological diseases * Mental and cognitive disorders that would seriously affect cooperation

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

change in the function

Function was asssesed by using Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE)

Time frame: postoperative week 6, 12.

Secondary Outcomes

change in the severity of pain

Severity of pain was assessed by using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), which ranges between 0-10 points, 0 represents no pain and 10 denotes maximum pain intensity.

Time frame: postoperative day 1, postoperative week 3, 6, 12.

change in the range of motion (ROM)

ROM was assesed by using an universal goniometer

Time frame: postoperative week 3, 6, 12.

change in hand and pinch grip strength

hand and pinch grip strength was assesed by using hydrolic hand and finger dynamometers.