Manual passive rehabilitation program for geriatric distal radius fractures

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Geriatric Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Limited wrist range of motion (ROM) is a frequent complication following distal radius fractures (DRFs) in elderly individuals.
• Restoring wrist function is essential for maintaining independence and quality of life in geriatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured rehabilitation program in improving wrist ROM for geriatric patients who have sustained DRFs.
• To compare the outcomes of rehabilitation based on the duration of wrist stiffness prior to intervention.

Main Methods:

• Eighty-eight geriatric patients (mean age 71.7 years) with DRFs participated.
• A daily 30-minute rehabilitation program was administered for 8 weeks.
• Wrist ROM was measured before, and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks post-rehabilitation, with statistical analysis using MANOVA and ANOVA.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in wrist ROM were observed at all measured time points (2, 4, and 8 weeks) after the rehabilitation program commenced.
• Patients experiencing stiffness for less than 3 months showed significantly greater ROM improvements compared to those with stiffness exceeding 3 months.
• The 8-week daily rehabilitation program demonstrated a significant positive effect on wrist ROM restoration.

Conclusions:

• An 8-week daily rehabilitation program is effective in restoring wrist ROM for geriatric patients with DRFs.
• Initiating rehabilitation within 3 months of fracture immobilization yields superior ROM recovery outcomes.
• Early and consistent rehabilitation is recommended for geriatric patients with limited wrist ROM post-DRF.