Comparing Supervised Physical Therapy to Home Exercise Programs in Patients With Distal Radius Fractures: A...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Distal radius fractures are common injuries requiring effective rehabilitation strategies.
• Home exercise programs are widely used, but their efficacy compared to supervised therapy needs clarification.
• Optimizing functional recovery is crucial for patient quality of life after fracture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing supervised physical therapy (SPT) to home exercise programs (HEP) for distal radius fracture recovery.
• To evaluate the impact of SPT versus HEP on key functional outcomes, including wrist function, grip strength, and range of motion.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 RCTs.
• Searched multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, etc.) from inception to April 2025.
• Assessed risk of bias using Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 and certainty of evidence with GRADE.

Main Results:

• Supervised physical therapy showed statistically significant short-term improvements in Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (moderate certainty), grip strength (low certainty), and wrist extension range of motion (moderate certainty) at 6 weeks.
• Benefits of SPT were observed for wrist function and extension in patients over 65 years.
• Increased frequency and number of SPT sessions correlated with greater pain relief and improved wrist range of motion.

Conclusions:

• Supervised physical therapy provides statistically significant short-term functional advantages over home exercise programs for patients with distal radius fractures.
• SPT positively impacts wrist function, grip strength, and range of motion.
• Further research may explore long-term benefits and optimal SPT protocols.