There was preliminary evidence from one trial that exercise to the non-injured arm during immobilisation might lead to short-term benefits on increasing grip strength and range of movement following distal radius fracture .
There is emerging evidence that current prescribed exercise regimens may not be effective in reducing impairments and improving activity following an upper limb fracture .
Starting exercise early combined with a shorter immobilisation period is more effective than starting exercise after a longer immobilisation period .
QUESTION What is the effect of exercise on increasing participation and activity levels and reducing impairment in the rehabilitation of people with upper limb fractures ?
Bruder AM , Shields N , Dodd KJ , Taylor NF ( 2017 ) Prescribed exercise programs may not be effective in reducing impairments and improving activity during upper limb fracture rehabilitation : a systematic review .
Rehabilitation after two-part fractures of the neck of the humerus.
We undertook a prospect i ve , controlled trial which compared two rehabilitation programmes for 86 patients who sustained two-part fractures of the proximal humerus . Patients were r and omised either to receive immediate physiotherapy within one week ( group A ) or delayed physiotherapy after three weeks of immobilisation in a collar and cuff sling ( group B ) . At 16 weeks after the fracture , patients in group A had less pain ( p < 0.01 ) and had greater shoulder function ( p < 0.001 ) than those in group B. At 52 weeks , the differences between the groups had reduced . Although group A still had greater shoulder function and less pain , there was no statistical difference when compared with group B. By analysis of the area under the curve , an overall measure up to the 52-week period , group A experienced less pain as measured by the SF36 general health question naire and had improved shoulder function . Our results show that patients with two-part fractures of the proximal humerus who begin immediate physiotherapy , experience less pain . The gains in shoulder function persist at 52 weeks which suggests that patients do not benefit from immobilisation before beginning physiotherapy
There was preliminary evidence from one trial that exercise to the non-injured arm during immobilisation might lead to short-term benefits on increasing grip strength and range of movement following distal radius fracture .
There is emerging evidence that current prescribed exercise regimens may not be effective in reducing impairments and improving activity following an upper limb fracture .
Starting exercise early combined with a shorter immobilisation period is more effective than starting exercise after a longer immobilisation period .
QUESTION What is the effect of exercise on increasing participation and activity levels and reducing impairment in the rehabilitation of people with upper limb fractures ?
Bruder AM , Shields N , Dodd KJ , Taylor NF ( 2017 ) Prescribed exercise programs may not be effective in reducing impairments and improving activity during upper limb fracture rehabilitation : a systematic review .