Early NMES and Mirror Therapy Interventions During Immobilization of Distal Radius Fracture

Summary

Current practice for distal radius fractures is to begin rehabilitation after immobilization to remediate the resulting impairments. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and mirror therapy are strategies that integrate neurological and musculoskeletal activation, that may be beneficial for mitigating the resulting impairments if applied during immobilization. The study aim is to determine whether neuromuscular stimulation and mirror therapy interventions can be implemented during immobilization for distal radius fractures to minimize the resulting impairments when compared to standard rehabilitation.

Conditions

• Distal Radius Fracture

Interventions

OTHER

Mirror Therapy

Participants will perform exercises with their unaffected arm in front of a mirror with the affected arm hiding behind the mirror. They will watch the reflection of the unaffected arm as they perform the exercises to provide visual feedback that the affected arm is performing the exercises. They will repeat this procedure for 10 minutes, 3 times a day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks.

OTHER

Neuromuscular Stimulation (NMES)

Participants will use a portable NMES machine to stimulate the wrist extensors and flexors of the affected arm at a low intensity with the arm relaxed. They will repeat this procedure for 10 minutes, 3 times a day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks.

OTHER

Mirror Therapy + NMES

Participants will perform exercises with their unaffected arm in front of a mirror with the affected arm hiding behind the mirror. They will watch the reflection of the unaffected arm as they perform the exercises to provide visual feedback that the affected arm is performing the exercises. During the exercises they will have a portable NMES machine set up to stimulate the wrist extensors and flexors of the affected arm at a low intensity with the arm relaxed. They will repeat this procedure for 10 minutes, 3 times a day, 5 days a week for 3 weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Western University

  collaborator OTHER

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Joy MacDermid, PhD · Western University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-02-09

Primary Completion

2024-06-30

Completion

2024-08-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations