Correlation of impairment and activity limitation after wrist fracture.
OBJECTIVE
During physiotherapy rehabilitation, judgements about activity limitation are often based on measurements of impairment. The present paper reports an investigation into the relationship between measurements of impairment and activity limitation in people with a fracture of the distal radius.


METHODS
Twenty people with a fracture of the distal radius were referred to physiotherapy after conservative management of their fractures. Measurements of impairment (grip strength and range of wrist extension) and activity limitation (Jebsen Test of Hand Function) were taken at the second physiotherapy appointment after cast removal. The scores between these measurements were correlated.


RESULTS
There were strong and significant correlations (-0.51 < rs < -0.76) between grip strength and the tasks of the Jebsen Test of Hand Function. The relationship between range of wrist extension and the Jebsen Test of Hand Function was weaker (-0.17 < rs < -0.55). However, subgroup analysis of those subjects with a Colles' type fracture of the distal radius demonstrated significant relationships between wrist extension and three of the seven activity tasks (-0.74 < rs < -0.84).


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary evidence was found to support the physiotherapy practice of use of measurement of impairment to monitor progress in a person with a fracture of the distal radius.
Tremayne
Aurelia
A
Alfred Hospital, Australia.
Taylor
Nicholas
N
McBurney
Helen
H
Baskus
Kris
K
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000379:methods*; D011885:Radius Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires