Efficacy of combined physical and occupational therapy in patients with conservatively treated distal radius fracture: randomized controlled trial

61 patients treated conservatively for distal radius fracture were randomized to receive either 3 weeks of physical therapy alone or with the addition of occupational therapy. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to assess the effectiveness of the additional occupational therapy in terms of range of motion, grip strength and function one month after the conclusion of rehabilitation. The results suggested that patients receiving the additional occupational therapy displayed significantly greater improvements in forearm rotation and grip strength over time, however, between groups, no significant differences were noted in wrist flexion, forearm rotation or DASH scores at final follow-up.