Motor Imagery in Rehabilitation After a Distal Radius Fracture (MIDRF)

University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Distal Radius Fracture

Treatments: Behavioral: Motor imagery

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01921062

NL36638.042.11 (Other Identifier)

MIDRF

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to determine whether motor imagery training during the immobilisation period in patients with a distal radius fracture, results in an improved functional outcome compared to patients who do not perform motor imagery.

Full description

Rationale: Distal radius fracture (DRF) is a common injury that may lead to prolonged function restrictions, decreased range of motion, reduced grip strength and pain. These symptoms may be caused by physical changes due to the injury and/or by the 4-6 weeks immobilization that is part of the conservative treatment. However, it might also be that neural changes during the immobilization play an important role. Such changes might be prevented by motor imagery training during the immobilization period. So, when neural changes are prevented, this may lead to a better functional outcome.

Objective: The objective is to improve the functional outcome in distal radius fracture patients, specified as an increase in function, dexterity, grip strength, range of motion, and decrease of pain.

Study design: Parallel group randomized controlled trial, with a post-test only control group design. Patients in the experimental group perform motor imagery training during the immobilization period, in addition to the regular treatment. Patients in the control group receive regular treatment.

Study population: Female DRF-patients who are conservatively treated by a cast, aged 45-75 years. The fracture must be a low energy trauma caused by a fall. Patients with a score higher than 72 on the Vividness of Motor Imagery Questionnaire (VMIQ) are excluded, as well as patients with co-morbidities that might influence the wrist function, or motor imagery-ability, and patients with no understanding of Dutch language. The patients are randomly allocated to the experimental or control group by restricted randomization to ensure equal group sizes.

Intervention: Motor imagery training during the immobilization period).

Main study parameters/endpoints: The main study parameter is function. Secondary study parameters are dexterity, range of motion, grip strength, and pain.

Enrollment: 66 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 45 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• female patients
• non-comminutive distal radius fracture
• 45 to 75 years of age

Exclusion criteria

• distal radius fracture caused by HET
• comorbidities possibly influencing wrist function
• comorbidities possibly influencing motor imagery ability
• score higher than 72 on the Vividness of Motor Imagery Questionnaire

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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66 participants in 2 patient groups

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Patients allocated to the control group only receive standard treatment.

Motor imagery

Experimental group

Description:

Patients allocated to this arm perform kinesthetic motor imagery during the immobilisation period.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Motor imagery