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Updated: May 16, 2026
Development of a Novel Internal Fixation Model for Rat Radial Fractures: Fracture Healing Assessment and Dorsal Root Ganglion Isolation
Published on: March 13, 2026
Physiotherapy intervention practice patterns used in rehabilitation after distal radial fracture
Andrea M Bruder1, Nicholas F Taylor, Karen J Dodd
1Department of Physiotherapy, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia. a.bruder@latrobe.edu.au
Objectives:
To identify the type and frequency of interventions used by physiotherapists in rehabilitating patients after a distal radial fracture; and, to examine whether any patient or therapist characteristics had an effect on the frequency of interventions administered.
Design:
Observational study.
Setting:
Four metropolitan outpatient physiotherapy departments.
Participants:
14 physiotherapists reported on 160 distal radial fracture consultations.
Main Outcome Measures:
Physiotherapists recorded the type of interventions and time spent administering interventions during each distal radial fracture consultation.
Results:
A combined site response rate of 70% was achieved (160/204). The most common interventions were exercise (155/160), advice (144/160), passive joint mobilisation (88/160) and massage (60/160). Patient characteristics and physiotherapist experience had little impact on the type and frequency of interventions reported by physiotherapists.
Conclusions:
Exercise and advice were the most frequently administered interventions for patients after a distal radial fracture irrespective of physiotherapist or patient factors. During rehabilitation, these interventions aim to restore wrist mobility and are consistent with both fracture management principles and a self management approach. Due to the routine use of exercise and advice there is a need for further research to provide high quality evidence that these interventions improve outcomes in patients after a distal radial fracture.
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