Ilias Theofilou

Abstract

Introduction/Objective: Fractures of the radius bone are common, accounting for one-fifth of all fractures in the upper and lower limbs. They frequently occur in elderly individuals, especially women due to osteoporosis, but also in younger adults following sports or traffic-related accidents. Some of the most well-known fractures include Colles, Smith, and Barton fractures. The aim of the present study is to describe and analyze the benefits of strengthening and stabilizing the shoulder girdle during the rehabilitation of patients with radius fractures.

Materials/Methods: English medical literature was utilized during the period from September to November 2025 through three electronic databases (PubMed , PEDro ,Google Scholar), as well as from private platforms (Physio Network and PhysioPedia)  using the following keywords : “Shoulder girdle strengthening in distal radius fractures” , “Shoulder strengthening after radius fractures” , “Shoulder rehabilitation and distal radius fractures” , “Shoulder function and strength training and radius fracture”.

Results: Studies have shown that stabilization and strengthening of the shoulder girdle during rehabilitation for radius bone fractures have many benefits in improving patients according to quality of life (QoL) scale. A total of 282 patients with distal radius fractures participated in the studies. Patients who underwent a physiotherapy rehabilitation program that included shoulder girdle strengthening showed greater improvement compared to those who followed a standard strengthening program focused on the surrounding muscles of the wrist and forearm, according to subjective assessment scales such as the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE), and Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MHQ), as well as objective evaluation scales such as range of motion (ROM) and grip strength measured with the Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer.

Conclusion: Shoulder girdle strengthening exercises in radius bone fractures provide many benefits in patients’ rehabilitation, improving their quality of life in terms of daily functionality as well as pain perception.