It typicallyrequires surgerytoreduceor set the bones.
You may have a long period of immobilization in a cast or splint after the injury.
Physical therapy for a Colles' fractureinvolves improving wrist and arm movement and strength.
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Your physical therapist will help you with exercises to regain normal mobility.
The home exercise program is an important part of your Colles' fracture rehab.
The exercises you perform at home can help support your physical therapy treatments.
Brett Sears, PT
This article discusses four wrist exercises your physical therapist may suggest using at home.
Before starting this or any other exercise program, be sure to check in with your healthcare provider.
They can help ensure that it is safe for you to do.
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Range of motion is the movement that you could do around the joint.
These might be motions like when you’re pouring a pitcher of water or carrying a bowl of soup.
These advanced wrist stretches can be started later.
Brett Sears, PT
Your initial focus should be on gaining wrist flexion and extension, or bending down and up.
Your PT may prescribe specific exercises to help improve your handgrip strength.
Perform each exercise for 10 to 15 repetitions.
Your physical therapist may suggest exercises to improve your hand grip.
you’ve got the option to use a rolled towel or a hand-therapy tool called a Digi-Flex gadget.
Your PT may give you some putty, or you’re able to buy some Silly Putty.
Squeeze the putty between your thumb and fingers, and then squeeze it between two individual fingers.
you could also roll the putty into a long tube and shape it into a ring.
Place the ring around your fingers to work on extending your fingers against resistance.
Putty can be used as a tool to help you regain strength in your fingers.
you could use the putty to squeeze between your thumb and fingers and between individual fingers.
Your physical therapist may prescribewrist strengthening exerciseswith a dumbbell to help improve your strength.
Remember to start slow with a light weight.
Once your wrist strengthens, you’re able to progress to a heavier weight.
Check in with your PT to ensure that you are using the proper resistance for your specific condition.
Light weights can help strengthen your wrists.
Be sure to check with your PT beforehand to ensure you’re using a safe amount of weight.
Your physical therapist will work with you on exercises to do at home.
Always check with your healthcare provider before doing these exercises independently.
They can verify that they’re safe for you and won’t cause additional injury.
Learning the right exercises to do can help you regain normal functional use of your arm and hand.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Distal radius fractures (broken wrist).
American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Pain management: How to get pain relief.
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