Summary
Rehabilitation with therapy (either physiotherapy or occupational therapy) after uncomplicated
fractures of the distal radius does not appear to confer significant additional benefit
over instruction and home-based exercises. Results from four small randomized controlled
trials show that home exercises provide adequate rehabilitation, and that routine
referral for a course of therapy may not be necessary. However, it is unknown whether
therapy confers any additional benefit over home-based exercises among patients at
high risk of a poor outcome after distal radius fractures. Larger studies using validated
measures may provide more definitive evidence.
