Author: Krzyżańska L1, Straburzyńska-Lupa A2, Rąglewska P2, Romanowski L3
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Physiotherapy Laboratory, J. Struś Municipal Hospital, Poznań, Poland.
<sup>2</sup>Department of Physical Therapy and Sports Recovery, Poznań University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland.
<sup>3</sup>Traumatology, Orthopedics and Hand Surgery Department, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
Conference/Journal: Biomed Res Int.
Date published: 2020 Feb 25
Other:
Volume ID: 2020 , Pages: 6849352 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1155/2020/6849352. eCollection 2020. , Word Count: 184
To assess whether pulsed electromagnetic field therapy during cast immobilization of distal radius fractures has beneficial effects on pain and limb function, the study included 52 patients (mean age 60.8 ± 15.0 years) with distal radius fractures treated with cast immobilization. Patients were allocated to a pulsed electromagnetic field group (n = 27) or a control group (n = 25). Pain; forearm and arm circumference; range of motion; disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score; and touch sensation were evaluated on the day of the plaster cast dressing and 3 and 6 weeks after. In comparison to the control group, the pulsed electromagnetic field group reported significant changes after 3 and 6 weeks of treatment: lower pain levels (p=0.0052; p < 0.0001, respectively), greater mobility of upper-limb joints, improvement in exteroceptive sensation, and reduction in disability of the upper limb (disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand) (p=0.0003; p < 0.0001, respectively). Our results suggest that early addition of pulsed electromagnetic field treatment, during cast immobilization of distal radius fractures, has beneficial effects on the pain, exteroceptive sensation, range of motion, and daily functioning of patients.
Copyright © 2020 Lucyna Krzyżańska et al.
PMID: 32185214 PMCID: PMC7060878 DOI: 10.1155/2020/6849352