Postoperative early and proactive grip strength training program for distal radius fractures promotes earlier recovery of grip strength: A retrospective study

The use of volar locking plates (VLPs) for distal radius fractures has remarkably improved clinical outcomes; however, there are some reports of delayed recovery of grip strength. Since January 2019, we have been conducting an early and proactive grip strength training program (EGTP). In this program, 20 minutes of grip strength training—using a gripper with a load of 0.7 kg—was initiated from 2 weeks after surgery; the load was then gradually increased. From 6 weeks postsurgery, daily home grip strength training was performed using a gripper with a load of 5 kg, provided to the patient. We investigated whether the introduction of the EGTP could lead to earlier recovery of grip strength. We also examined whether the EGTP caused postoperative correction loss at the fractured site, or contributed to the early improvement of wrist function. Thirty-nine patients who underwent surgery using VLPs for distal radius fractures were included in this study; 20 followed the EGTP (EGTP group) and 19 patients did not (NGTP group). For these patients, grip strength and range of motion of the wrist joint were evaluated both 3 and 6 months postoperatively. The Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (qDASH) scores were also evaluated 6 months postoperatively. Additionally, corrective losses of radial inclination (RI), palmar tilt (PT), and ulnar variance (UV)—occurring from immediately postsurgery to 6 months after surgery—were evaluated. At both 3 and 6 months postoperatively, the grip strength of the EGTP group was significantly higher than that of the NGTP group. Regarding range of motion, only palmar flexion was significantly improved in the EGTP group at 3 months postoperatively. Conversely, no differences in corrective losses of RI, PT, and UV, or in qDASH scores, were observed between the two groups. The results of this study suggest that the EGTP can provide early recovery of grip strength and palmar flexion of the wrist without causing corrective loss at the fracture site.