Distal Radial Fracture Treatment & Rehab

Expert Distal Radial Fracture Treatment in Delhi

What is Distal Radial Fracture ?

A distal radial fracture is a break in the radius bone, which is one of the two bones in the forearm, specifically near the wrist. This is one of the most common types of fractures, often occurring from falls.

Causes of Distal Radial Fractures

Falls onto an Outstretched Hand (FOOSH): This is by far the most common cause, especially in older adults with osteoporosis. When someone falls and instinctively puts out their hand to break the fall, the force travels up the arm to the distal radius, causing it to break.
High-Energy Trauma: In younger, more active individuals, these fractures can result from higher-impact incidents like:
- Sports injuries (e.g., snowboarding, cycling, rollerblading accidents).
- Motor vehicle accidents.
Osteoporosis: Weakened bones due to osteoporosis significantly increase the risk of these fractures, even from minor falls.
Direct Blow to the Wrist: Less common, but a direct impact to the wrist can also cause a fracture.

Symptoms of a Distal Radial Fracture

Immediate and Severe Pain: Localized in the wrist area, often radiating up the forearm.
Swelling and Bruising: Rapid development around the wrist.
Deformity: The wrist may look visibly “bent” or deformed, often described as a “dinner fork” deformity (Colles’ fracture) if the distal fragment displaces backward.
Tenderness to Touch: Extreme pain when the fracture site is palpated.
Inability to Move the Wrist or Hand: Great difficulty or impossibility of moving the wrist and sometimes the fingers.
Numbness or Tingling: In the fingers or hand if nerves (like the median nerve) are compressed or irritated by the swelling or fracture fragments.

Advanced Physiotherapy for Distal Radial Fractures

After the fracture has been set (either non-surgically with a cast or surgically with plates/screws), physiotherapy is essential for restoring full function to the wrist, hand, and arm. The rehabilitation process is progressive and aims to:

Reduce Pain and Swelling:
- Cryotherapy (Ice): To manage inflammation.
- Elevation: To reduce swelling.
- Gentle Compression: With bandages or wraps.
- Pain Education: Understanding pain and strategies to manage it.
Restore Range of Motion (ROM):
- Early Finger and Thumb Movement: Often started while the wrist is still immobilized to prevent stiffness in the digits.
- Gentle Passive ROM: Once the cast is removed or as allowed by the surgeon, the therapist moves the wrist and forearm through its available range of motion.
- Active-Assisted ROM (AAROM) and Active ROM (AROM): Progressing to the patient actively moving their own wrist and forearm (flexion, extension, radial/ulnar deviation, pronation, supination).
- Joint Mobilization: (Explained below)
Improve Strength and Endurance:
- Isometric Exercises: Gentle muscle contractions without joint movement (e.g., wrist flexion isometrics against a wall).
- Progressive Resistance Exercises (PREs): Using putty, resistance bands, light weights, and eventually grip strengtheners for the wrist, hand, and forearm muscles.
- Strengthening of Elbow and Shoulder: To prevent compensatory movements and ensure overall upper limb strength.
Enhance Grip Strength and Dexterity:
- Exercises targeting fine motor skills and hand function, crucial for daily activities. Examples include picking up small objects, manipulating coins, using tools.
Restore Proprioception and Neuromuscular Control:
- Exercises to improve the brain’s awareness of the wrist’s position and movement, essential for coordination and preventing re-injury. Examples include balance activities on unstable surfaces (if applicable) or precise reaching tasks.
Functional Retraining:
- Practicing activities of daily living (ADLs) and occupational tasks (e.g., cooking, writing, typing, lifting objects) in a safe and progressive manner.
- Sport-specific drills for athletes.

Advanced Manual Therapy Techniques for Distal Radial Fractures

Manual therapy is a hands-on approach used by physiotherapists to restore mobility, reduce pain, and optimize tissue healing.

Joint Mobilization:

Specific, controlled movements applied to the radio-carpal (wrist), distal radio-ulnar, and intercarpal joints to restore normal gliding and rolling motions, reduce stiffness, and improve overall wrist mobility. This is critical for preventing and treating post-fracture stiffness.

Myofascial Release (MFR)

Addresses restrictions in the fascia (connective tissue) that can develop due to injury, swelling, or immobilization. For a distal radial fracture, MFR can be applied to the forearm muscles (flexors and extensors), hand intrinsics, and even the surrounding arm and shoulder to improve overall tissue extensibility and reduce compensatory tightness.

Active Release Technique (ART)

A patented soft tissue system that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. The therapist applies pressure to the affected tissue while the patient moves the limb through a specific range of motion. ART is very effective in breaking down scar tissue and adhesions that can limit wrist and hand movement after a fracture.

Muscle Energy Technique (MET)

Uses the patient’s own muscle contractions against a therapist’s resistance to relax and lengthen tight muscles and mobilize stiff joints. For instance, MET can be used to improve wrist extension by gently contracting wrist flexors and then moving into further extension.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

Working Hours

Mon - Sat: 9:00AM to 8:30PM
Sunday: 9:30AM to 7:30PM

Call Us

+91 8090080906
+91 8090080907
+91 8866991000