Supervised vs. Home-Based vs. No Therapy for Uncomplicated Distal Radius Fracture in Younger Adults
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Supervised Therapy for DRF Rehabilitation, Home-Based Rehabilitation Program for DRF, Minimal Educational Intervention for DRF.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Distal Radius Fractures. Basic parameters: 18 years — 65 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Egypt
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Supervised Therapy Versus a Standardized Home-Based Program Versus No Formal Therapy for Uncomplicated, Nonoperatively Treated Distal Radius Fracture in Adults Under 50: A Three-Arm, Parallel-Group Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
This three-arm, parallel-group RCT will compare the effectiveness of three rehabilitation strategies following conservative treatment of an uncomplicated distal radius fracture in adults under 50 years old. The study will compare: Supervised Therapy: Outpatient physical therapy sessions plus a daily home exercise program Home-Based Program: A structured, detailed home exercise program with weekly telephone follow-up No Therapy (minimal intervention): Standard minimal instruction via an educational brochure The primary outcome is the Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) measured at 6 weeks and 6 months.
Detailed description
Uncomplicated, nonoperatively treated distal radius fractures in younger adults (18-50 years) are common, yet current guidelines offer a "D" rating regarding optimal rehabilitation-specifically, whether structured, supervised therapy, a detailed home-based program, or no formal therapy is best. A lack of consensus may delay optimal recovery and unnecessarily increase healthcare usage.
After cast removal (typically 4-6 weeks), eligible participants will be randomized into one of three groups:
Supervised Therapy Group (STG): Participants attend once-weekly, 30- to 45-minute outpatient sessions with a licensed physical therapist for 6 weeks, focusing on progressive range of motion, light strengthening, proprioception, and functional tasks. They also perform a short daily home exercise program (10-15 minutes).
Home-Based Program Group (HBG): Participants perform a standardized, detailed exercise program at home, self-administered daily. They receive weekly phone or video follow-up (approximately 10 minutes) from research assistants.
No Therapy Group (NTG): Participants receive minimal instructions and an educational brochure (e.g., "move your wrist as tolerated") without formal exercise supervision.
Intervention components follow the TIDieR (Template for Intervention Description and Replication) guidelines:
Materials:
STG: Standard therapy equipment (theraband, therapy putty). HBG: Written and online exercise manual; exercise logs for self-report. NTG: General educational brochure.
Procedures:
STG: In-person 30-45-minute sessions weekly, plus daily home exercises. HBG: Self-directed exercise program with weekly telephonic check-ins. NTG: Minimal instruction only.
Who Provides:
STG: Licensed physical therapists. HBG: Research assistants provide check-ins. NTG: No active provider contact.
Where:
STG: Outpatient clinic visits. HBG: Participant's home with telephone support. NTG: No additional intervention setting.
When and How Much:
Duration: 6 weeks of intervention post-cast removal; full study follow-up over 6 months.
Frequency: STG = 1 clinical session per week + daily (\~10-15 minute) home exercises; HBG = daily home routine with 1 weekly call; NTG = educational brochure at baseline.
Modifications:
Adjust therapy intensity for pain or reported complications; referral back to the treating surgeon if necessary.
Adherence:
STG attendance is tracked; HBG requires exercise logs; NTG has no structured adherence measures.
Planned Assessments:
Baseline (at cast removal), 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months follow-up.
Interventions
- Behavioral Supervised Therapy for DRF Rehabilitation
Participants assigned to the Supervised Therapy Group (STG) will receive in-person, supervised rehabilitation sessions in an outpatient clinic. Each session lasts 30-45 minutes and is conducted by a licensed physical therapist. The therapy focuses on progressive range of motion exercises, light strengthening, proprioception training, and functional task practice. In addition, participants are prescribed a daily home exercise program (lasting 10-15 minutes) to reinforce gains made during the clin - Behavioral Home-Based Rehabilitation Program for DRF
Participants assigned to the Home-Based Program Group (HBG) will follow a standardized, detailed home exercise program specifically designed for distal radius fracture rehabilitation. The program includes instructions for range of motion, strengthening, and functional tasks similar to the supervised protocol. Participants receive a comprehensive written and online exercise manual, and they are instructed to perform the exercises daily. In addition, they will have weekly telephone or video check- - Behavioral Minimal Educational Intervention for DRF
Participants assigned to the No Therapy Group (NTG) will receive a minimal intervention consisting solely of general educational material. At the time of cast removal, they will be provided with a simple, standardized educational brochure that contains basic instructions for wrist and hand movement (e.g., "move your wrist as tolerated"). No additional therapy sessions, home exercise logs, or follow-up telephone calls will be provided beyond routine care. This intervention is intended to reflect
Primary outcome measures
- Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) Total Score [Time frame: Assessed at 6 weeks (Cast-removal), 3 months, and 6 months post-intervention.]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- Wrist/Forearm Range of Motion (ROM) [Time frame: Assessed at 6 weeks (Cast-removal), 3 months, and 6 months post-intervention.]
- Upper Limb Disability (QuickDASH) [Time frame: Assessed at 6 weeks (Cast-removal), 3 months, and 6 months post-intervention.]
- Return-to-Activity Timeline [Time frame: Recorded at 3 and 6 months post-intervention.]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
Adults aged 18-50 years. Diagnosed with an extra-articular, stable distal radius fracture treated nonoperatively with a short-arm cast for approximately 4-6 weeks.
The fracture is uncomplicated (no significant soft-tissue injury, no evidence of CRPS, and no other major complications).
Willing to provide written informed consent and comply with follow-up assessments.
Exclusion criteria
Intra-articular or unstable fracture patterns. Surgical intervention planned or performed for the distal radius fracture. Presence of significant comorbidities (e.g., chronic inflammatory arthritis or severe neurological impairment affecting the injured limb).
Fracture complications such as CRPS or major soft-tissue injury. Inability to comply with study procedures or follow-up assessments. Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Single blind
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Egypt · 1 center
- Faculty of Physical Therapy, Al Hayah University — Cairo
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06913894 · DRFRecov2025-01