Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Jul 5;12(5):460-473.
doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1769925. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Rehabilitation after Distal Radius Fractures: Opportunities for Improvement

Henriëtte A W Meijer  1   2   3 , Miryam C Obdeijn  4   3 , Justin van Loon  5   3 , Stein B M van den Heuvel  1 , Lianne C van den Brink  1 , Marlies P Schijven  1   2   6 , J Carel Goslings  7 , Tim Schepers  1   3
Affiliations

Rehabilitation after Distal Radius Fractures: Opportunities for Improvement

Henriëtte A W Meijer et al. J Wrist Surg. .

Abstract

Background Exercises are frequently prescribed to regain function; yet there is no consensus on a standardized protocol, and adherence is low. Smart technology innovations, such as mobile applications, may be useful to provide home-based patient support in rehabilitation after distal radius fractures. Purposes Our purpose was to establish the potential of digital innovations for support and monitoring of patients and treatment adherence in rehabilitation programs, and additionally, to compare the current practice among physiotherapists to the various wrist exercise regimens and their effectiveness as described in the literature. Methods Standard practice, including the use of support tools for treatment adherence, was evaluated using a nationwide survey. Then, scientific databases were searched using "distal radius fracture" and "physiotherapy" or "exercise therapy," and related search terms, up until 23 March 2023. Results of the survey and literature review were compared. Results The survey was completed by 92 therapists. Nonstandardized support tools were used by 81.6% of respondents; 53.2% used some form of technology, including taking photos on the patients' smartphone for home reference. In the literature review, 23 studies were included, of which five described an exercise protocol. Treatment adherence was not reported in any of the included studies. Two studies described the use of smart technology or support tools. Conclusions There is no consensus on a standardized exercise protocol for rehabilitation after distal radius fractures, neither from a systematic literature search nor from a nationwide survey. Smart technology may facilitate monitoring of patients and exercise adherence, hereby supporting self-efficacy and improving adherence and outcomes.

Keywords: exercise therapy; gamification; self-efficacy; treatment adherence; wrist fractures.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow diagram.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Risk of bias graph.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Nellans K W, Kowalski E, Chung K C. The epidemiology of distal radius fractures. Hand Clin. 2012;28(02):113–125. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Court-Brown C M, Caesar B. Epidemiology of adult fractures: a review. Injury. 2006;37(08):691–697. - PubMed
    1. Kilgore M L, Morrisey M A, Becker D J et al.Health care expenditures associated with skeletal fractures among Medicare beneficiaries, 1999-2005. J Bone Miner Res. 2009;24(12):2050–2055. - PubMed
    1. MacIntyre N J, Dewan N. Epidemiology of distal radius fractures and factors predicting risk and prognosis. J Hand Ther. 2016;29(02):136–145. - PubMed
    1. Stirling E RB, Johnson N A, Dias J J. Epidemiology of distal radius fractures in a geographically defined adult population. J Hand Surg Eur Vol. 2018;43(09):974–982. - PubMed