Proximal Strengthening for the Management of Wrist Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study will be a randomized controlled trial comparing proximal strengthening vs. traditional hand therapy for patients with wrist pain. Patients will attend 2 hand therapy sessions per week for 4 weeks. Change in patient function and pain as measured by the patient rated wrist evaluation will be the primary outcome of interest

Detailed Description
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This will be a non-blinded randomized controlled trial using a sample of consecutive patients with wrist pain. Patients who are referred to Nationwide Children's Hospital Hand therapy clinics with a primary complaint of wrist pain will be considered for this study. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups; The proximal strengthening group or Traditional Hand Therapy Group. Both treatment groups will be evaluated and treated by the certified hand therapists for 2 sessions per week for 4 weeks. Both groups will receive similar treatment durations of 45-60 minutes per session based on each patient's individual needs. Proximal strengthening group-The experimental proximal strengthening group consists of treatment where the hand therapist address specific impairments at the wrist and hand for 20-30 minutes at each treatment session. Patients allocated to this treatment group will also perform a standardized proximal strengthening protocol consisting of cervical, periscapular, and shoulder strengthening exercises. Depending on the pace and guidance needed for these exercises 25-30 minutes will be spent on proximal strengthening exercises. As the patients endurance and strength increased the repetitions and/or resistance of these exercises will increase. Traditional Hand Therapy Group This active comparator group consists of treatment where the hand therapist address specific impairments at the wrist and hand for 45-60 minutes at each treatment session. Treatment can include stretching, motion, and strengthening exercises. As the patients endurance and strength increased the repetitions and/or resistance of these exercises will increase. Modalities for pain control and tissue mobility, and bracing or splinting if necessary. All treatments for the traditional hand therapy treatment group will occur seated at the hand therapy treatment table.

Official Title
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Proximal Strengthening for the Management of Wrist Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Wrist Injuries

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: hand therapy
* Other: Proximal Strengthening


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Wrist pain Exclusion Criteria: <8 years of age any neurological disorder Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis juvenile idiopathic arthritis Wrist fractures < 16 weeks from date of injury or surgery Tendon repair Nerve injury or repair Inability to follow directions Inability to attend follow-up appointments

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 8 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Proximal strengthening + hand therapy<br>Patients in this group will perform traditional hand therapy for 30 minutes and proximal strengthening of the core, cervical spine, and shoulder complex for up to 30 minutes | Other: hand therapy<br>* Treatment can include stretching, motion, and strengthening exercises. As the patients endurance and strength increased the repetitions and/or resistance of these exercises will increase. Modalities for pain control and tissue mobility, and bracing or splinting if necessary. All treatments for the traditional hand therapy treatment group will occur seated at the hand therapy treatment table.<br>Other: Proximal Strengthening<br>* Patients will perform a standardized proximal strengthening protocol consisting of cervical, periscapular, and shoulder strengthening exercises. Depending on the pace and guidance needed for these exercises 25-30 minutes will be spent on proximal strengthening exercises. As the patients endurance and strength increased the repetitions and/or resistance of these exercises will increase.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Traditional hand therapy<br>This group will receive traditional hand therapy for 45-60 minutes each session. | Other: hand therapy<br>* Treatment can include stretching, motion, and strengthening exercises. As the patients endurance and strength increased the repetitions and/or resistance of these exercises will increase. Modalities for pain control and tissue mobility, and bracing or splinting if necessary. All treatments for the traditional hand therapy treatment group will occur seated at the hand therapy treatment table.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Patient Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) score | The PRWE is a 15 item self-report questionnaire which measure pain and function. It has been found valid and reliable for measure changes in pain and function for patients with wrist pain. The minimal clinical important difference of this scale is 14 (Sorensen, 2013). | 4 weeks (From initial evaluation to discharge) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Grip Dynamometer strength | Grip strength will be measured using a Jamar dynamometer on 2nd setting with elbow at 90 deg and shoulder in adduction at the patient's side, with the patient seated. Grip strength will be expressed as a percentage of body weight to account for differences in patients size and strength. | 4 weeks (From initial evaluation to discharge) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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wrist, proximal strengthening, hand therapy