A fractured wrist is a major inconvenience for most patients. Helping them regain strength and range of motion as quickly as possible is an important part of their treatment. Whether you are providing treatment immediately after the injury has occurred or after the cast has been removed, the right treatment strategy may help patients heal and return to their normal activities as quickly as possible.

You’re already familiar with most of the exercises that patients can do during wrist fracture recovery, but what else can you do to help aid the healing process? Using a combination of new treatment approaches and time-tested therapeutic methods may help your wrist fracture patients heal even more quickly and safely.

Cryotherapy

If the wrist is in a sling or removable brace while the bones are repairing themselves, it’s possible to use a cryotherapy system to help reduce pain and swelling while also stimulating the healing process.1 A body-conforming wrap helps deliver consistent, targeted, therapeutic cold, which helps naturally relieve pain and slows down cellular metabolism.2 At the same time, active compression helps remove edema and prevents additional swelling from building up in the area surrounding the wrist joint.3

Contrast Therapy

After the inflammation has subsided, contrast therapy may be used to promote healing by increasing circulation with the application of heat. Quickly alternating with therapeutic cold allows the body to get the benefits of heat without the risk of additional inflammation caused by the increased blood flow. Contrast therapy also helps promote tissue healing by increasing metabolic activity and forcing the tissue to rapidly adapt to the temperature shifts.4 If the wrist is in a cast, contrast therapy may be used after it is removed to help increase circulation and reduce pain.

Electrical Stimulation

Although the broken bones in a wrist fracture may naturally heal themselves, in some cases, electrical stimulation may help the process. Capacitive coupling, which requires a patient to wear two skin electrodes that are placed on either side of the broken bones, causes bone cells to proliferate more rapidly, which may contribute to faster healing.5 This method has been shown to be particularly effective for scaphoid fractures and for patients who have difficulties with bone healing.6

Manual Therapy

When patients visit a physical therapist, they expect treatment they can’t do on their own at home. Using hands-on techniques such as passive range-of-motion exercises and massage may help facilitate the recovery process and keep patients returning to the clinic. Passive exercises help them safely regain the range of motion they may have lost while the wrist was immobilized. Massage may help remove edema and stiffness from the muscles surrounding the joint.7

Occupational Therapy

Another way to help a patient recovering from a wrist fracture is to provide occupational therapy tips that may help them safely perform daily activities without risking slowing recovery. It may be difficult for patients to adapt to life without the full use of their hand, wrist, or arm, but the more they are able to maintain their lifestyle, the less disruptive the recovery process will be. Showing patients a few exercises for improving grip strength, as well as alternative ways of performing certain activities, can go a long way in the recovery process.

 

Game Ready recommends that people ask providers about their treatment approaches and how current they are with new technologies. How does your practice stack up against the other providers in your area? If you’d like to learn more about cryotherapy and contrast therapy for treating wrist fractures and other types of injuries, contact us today.

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Endnotes

  1. Should you ice or heat an injury? Southern California Orthopedic Institute. https://www.scoi.com/patient-resources/education/articles/should-you-ice-or-heat-injury. Accessed September 3, 2019.
  2. Tipton MJ, Collier N, Massey H, Corbett J, Harper M. Cold water immersion: kill or cure? Experimental Physiology. 2017;102(11):1335-1355. https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1113/EP086283. Accessed September 3, 2019.
  3.  Ice packs vs. warm compresses for pain. University of Rochester Medical Center. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=85&contentid=p00918. Accessed September 3, 2019.
  4. Ingraham P. Contrast hydrotherapy. PainScience.com. https://www.painscience.com/articles/contrasting.php. Published December 12, 2018.
  5. Lorich DG, Brighton CT, Gupta R, et al. Biochemical pathway mediating the response of bone cells to capacitive coupling. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 1998;350:246-256. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9602826.
  6.  Hannemann P, Göttgens KW, Wely BJV, et al. Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in the treatment of fresh scaphoid fractures. A multicenter, prospective, double blind, placebo controlled, randomized trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2011;12(1).  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3107178/. Accessed September 3, 2019.
  7. Miller LK, Jerosch-Herold C, Shepstone L. Effectiveness of edema management techniques for subacute hand edema: a systematic review. Journal of Hand Therapy. 2017;30(4):432-446. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5686286/. Accessed September 3, 2019.