In 2017, Jia, et. al., aimed to assess the impact of joint mobilization on postoperative wrist joint function, pain, and grip strength in elderly patients recovering from distal radius fractures. The researchers compared the outcomes of two groups: one undergoing routine exercise and another receiving joint mobilization therapy. The results shed light on the potential benefits of joint mobilization in improving joint activity and overall wrist function following surgery.

Between January 2015 and June 2016, a total of 67 elderly patients with distal radius fractures were randomly assigned to either the routine exercise group or the joint mobilization group. The routine exercise group consisted of 37 patients (16 males and 21 females) with an average age of 67.8 years. Similarly, the joint mobilization group comprised 30 patients (14 males and 16 females) with an average age of 67.1 years. Various injury mechanisms, including falls and traffic accidents, were observed in both groups. The patients’ wrist joint activity, Gartland-Werley wrist joint function score, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, and grip strength were assessed three months after treatment.

After three months of treatment, the joint mobilization group exhibited significantly lower VAS pain scores compared to the routine exercise group (P<0.05). Moreover, the average grip strength of the affected side was higher in the joint mobilization group than in the routine exercise group (P<0.05). When comparing wrist joint activity, the routine exercise group showed significantly greater flexion, extension, and radial deviation angles than the joint mobilization group (P<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in ulnar deviation angles (P>0.05). Regarding the Gartland-Werley scores, there were no significant differences in residual deformity and complications between the two groups (P>0.05). However, the routine exercise group had significantly higher subjective scores, objective scores, and total scores compared to the joint mobilization group (P<0.05). Notably, the joint mobilization group exhibited a higher proportion of excellent outcomes in wrist function according to the Gartland-Werley score (P<0.05).

The findings from this study suggest that incorporating joint mobilization into the treatment regimen for elderly patients with distal radius fractures can lead to improved joint activity and enhanced wrist function after surgery. The joint mobilization group experienced reduced pain levels and exhibited higher grip strength on the affected side compared to the routine exercise group. Furthermore, joint mobilization facilitated greater flexion, extension, and radial deviation angles, contributing to better overall wrist function. These results highlight the potential benefits of joint mobilization as an effective therapeutic approach for elderly patients recovering from distal radius fractures. Further research and clinical trials are warranted to validate these findings and explore the long-term effects of joint mobilization in this patient population.

Reference: Jia, X. F., Cai, H. X., Lin, G. S., Fang, J. S., Wang, Y., Wu, Z. Y., & Tu, X. H. (2017). Clinical observation on the effect of joint mobilization in treating elderly patients after distal radius fractures operation. Zhongguo gu Shang= China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 30(7), 643-646.