Distal Radius Fractures Do Not Affect Mobility, Study Finds

Researchers found women older than 50 years with distal radius fractures physically are capable of doing the same things as an age-matched control group without distal radius fractures.

“Overall physical performance is not different between women with distal radius fractures and those with no distal radius fractures,” the researchers wrote in the study. “Differences in their chair stand test scores and grip strength may imply early subtle decrease in physical performance level in patients with distal radius fracture.”

The researchers prospectively compared 40 women with distal radius fractures sustained from falls to 40 age-matched controls with no distal radius fractures or history of falls and followed them up to six months, according to the study. The study excluded patients with cognitive impairment, neuromuscular disease or chronic conditions that affected muscle function.

There was no significant difference in Short Physical Performance Battery summary scores or walking hours per day between groups. The average chair stand score was lower in the distal radius fracture group at 3.3 points compared to 3.6 points in the control group, while the direct measurement for the chair stand test was 11.2 seconds in the distal radius fracture group and 10.4 seconds in the control group. The average grip strength was lower in the distal radius fracture group at 14.4 kg compared to 16.7 kg for the control group.

“Further studies are warranted on whether preventive measures such as muscle strengthening exercise would be helpful for preventing future fall events and fractures in patients with a distal radius fracture,” the authors wrote in their study.