Project 439791

Fracturing the wrist usually requires a brace/cast to be worn for at least six weeks to keep the wrist inactive for fracture healing. The inactivity leads to loss of motor function (i.e. reduced strength and movement), which may require extensive rehabilitation and often leaves lasting impairments. Stimulating the nerves of the arm and mental rehearsal of movements, without physically performing the movement, have shown to be beneficial in recovering from the resulting loss of motor function. This research project aims to use these strategies, with some changes so they can be used during the time the wrist in casted/splinted, with the aim of reducing the loss of motor function from the inactivity. For the nerve stimulation a brace/cast will be designed and developed to deliver the stimulation to the underlying tissue while in the cast. The project consists of 6-week in-home programs for two groups. One to stimulate the nerves of the arm and the other to encourage mental rehearsal of movements both in hopes of improving recovery and shortening the time needed to heal. These two groups, and a third comparison group, will all take part in standard rehabilitation programs after immobilization. The in-home program will be assessed for ease of use. Motor function and pain will be measured at various time points up to 2.5 months after the intervention to see if the interventions speed up recovery at a functional level. This study will provide innovative cast for early rehabilitation for wrist fractures and sustainable new interventions to improve care for the large volume of people who incur wrist fractures.