Effectiveness of Eccentric Exercise in The Rehabilitation of Post-Immobilization Stiffness of Wrist: A Case Study

Abstract

Post-immobilization deficiency in wrist motion is a common complication following distal radius fractures and it interferes with daily life activities. The wrist and the hand play a vital role in the manipulation grasping and releasing of objects. Achieving a functional range of motion and adequate muscle power to perform daily activities remains a challenge for therapists involved in rehabilitation. The present case is a 27-year-old electrician who visited our outpatient physiotherapy department with wrist joint stiffness. He had a history of falls and sustained a distal radius fracture on his right forearm and was operated on with a buttress plate and screws 2 months ago. In this case study an eccentric exercise-based rehabilitation program was prescribed in addition to conventional wrist and hand rehabilitation. An eccentric exercise program is modified and progressed according to the patientrsquos tolerance. Pain range of motion muscle strength of wrist and disability of the arm shoulder and hand score were used as outcome measures. Following two weeks of the eccentricbased rehabilitation program the patient achieved improvement in wrist motions and disability of the arm shoulder and hand score results. The eccentric exercise program is effective in improving wrist range motion muscle power and hand function following stiffness.